Markus Andrews

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailA cabinet minister has admitted that tens of thousands of victims have waited too long for compensation as a result of the infected blood scandal. Grant Shapps also said that families affected by the fiasco have been “let down” over decades. Victims are set for a compensation package expected to top £10bn, after Jeremy Hunt said the payouts would fulfil a promise he made to a constituent 10 years ago to deliver justice. The chancellor also called the scandal the worst of his lifetime as he indicated he would be open to a memorial to the victims. Ministers are set to outline payments to those given contaminated blood or blood products between the 1970s and the early 1990s later this week. The parents, children and siblings of those infected will also receieve money, it is expected. On Monday an inquiry is due to unveil its damning findings on the scandal, one of the worst in NHS history.On Sunday, Mr Shapps agreed the cases were one of the most shameful failures of government he had seen. Campaigners are set to rally for a final time for the final report of the Infected Blood Inquiry (Aaron Chown/PA) More

Sir Keir Starmer was quizzed on his policies for “discrimination against bald blokes” during an appearance on Sunday Brunch.The Labour leader showed off his cooking skills by making tandoori salmon, before sitting down with hosts Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer.“Final question, do you have anything on discrimination against bald blokes?” a cheeky Tim asked.“Nothing at all, nothing,” Sir Keir said amid laughter from the studio, before running off to watch the Arsenal game.Earlier on Sunday, Wes Streeting forgot one of Sir Keir’s key pledges during an appearance on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, pulling out a prompt card to help. More

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UKSign up to our Brexit email for the latest insightThe Brexiteer promise of stronger sovereignty has failed and is instead leading to a loss of control of British territories, MPs have warned.The claim has come ahead of a showdown on Monday between David Cameron and members of the Commons European scrutiny committee over a planned treaty for Gibraltar.The governments of Gibraltar and the UK are close to agreeing a treaty that some fear will see EU Frontex border guards decide who can enter the British overseas territory – and will give them the power to turn away British citizens.Added to that, with the threat that Gibraltar could become subject to Schengen area rules, there are now concerns that UK citizens will only be allowed to stay for 90 days on “the Rock” even though it is a British overseas territory.David Cameron is due to discuss Gibraltar and Northern Ireland with the European scrutiny committee More

Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes Sir Keir Starmer “will do a very good job of running the country” if he wins the general election.The Ineos founder and Manchester United co-owner suggested that the Conservatives have had a “good run” but that “most of the country probably feels it’s time for a change.”“I’m sure Keir will do a very good job of running the country, I have no questions about that,” Sir Jim told Sky News.“The UK does need to get a bit sharper on the business front.” More

Wes Streeting needed to pull out a prompt card as he recited Sir Keir Starmer’s six Labour pledges.Appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the shadow health secretary was sat opposite Grant Shapps when the BBC host caught them off guard with a “test”.While Mr Shapps was able to name all of Rishi Sunak’s five pledges, Mr Streeting only managed five of Sir Keir’s six key policies, which were outlined by the Labour leader on Friday 17 May.“The annoying thing is, I was preparing for that question and I still fluffed it,” he admitted.“I might as well just go home now.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailBritish companies should ditch political activism and focus on delivering goods and services for customers, the UK’s business secretary has said.Kemi Badenoch, who also works as Britain’s equalities minister, said there was a “creeping politicisation” of businesses and claimed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives did more to divide than unify people.It comes as 50 per cent of people thought businesses were too concerned with “taking political positions” on contested issues, according to a survey by centre-right think-tank Policy Exchange.Up to 75 per cent also believed firms should hire on merit, regardless of race or gender, instead of seeking to create a diverse workforce.“Policy Exchange’s findings confirm what I know to be true from talking to people who run businesses, work in them, and buy from them,” said Ms Badenoch.Kemi Badenoch said British companies should ditch political activism and focus on delivering goods and services More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailThe Archbishop of Canterbury has slammed the two-child benefit cap as “cruel” and urged prime minister Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer to commit to scrapping it.Justin Welby said the limit, which restricts child benefit entitlement to two children per household, was neither “moral nor necessary” and it fell short of “our values as a society”.The prime minister has pledged to keep the policy if the Tories remain in power and Sir Keir has so far resisted calls to get rid of it.“The two-child limit falls short of our values as a society. It denies the truth that all children are of equal and immeasurable worth, and will have an impact on their long-term health, wellbeing and educational outcomes,” the Archbishop told The Observer.“This cruel policy is neither moral nor necessary. We are a country that can and should provide for those most in need, following the example of Jesus Christ, who served the poorest in society.”Sir Keir said tackling child poverty was ‘central’ to a Labour government but has so far resisted calls to scrap the policy More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailLabour has pledged to introduce shared NHS waiting lists to deliver an extra 40,000 appointments a week and improve healthcare.Hospitals would be forced to run evening and weekend surgeries, with staff and resources pooled across a region under the plans.Patients would also be offered appointments at nearby hospitals to avoid waiting times at their local one, allowing them to be treated faster.Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “Fourteen years of Conservative neglect has seen waiting lists treble and, despite Rishi Sunak’s promise, they are still rising.“Only Labour has a plan to reform our NHS, get hospitals working together with shared waiting lists and staff, to get patients treated on time again.”Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting slammed the government’s ‘neglect’ of the NHS More