Rishi Sunakâs words were echoed across almost all the major newspaper front pages on Tuesday, as the prime minister apologised for the failures of successive governments over the infected blood scandal, declaring it a âday of shame for the British stateâ.
A report released at the end of a five-year public inquiry found that the scandal that claimed the lives of 3,000 people treated with contaminated blood was made worse by a âchillingâ NHS and government cover-up.
The Guardian characterises it as the âbiggest ever NHS treatment disasterâ, and features an image of campaigners gathered outside parliament on the day that the report was released.
The Mirror carries images of just a few of those who lost their lives to the scandal, its headline reading âMake guilty face justiceâ.
The Telegraph, like many others, features Sunakâs words on its front page with ââA day of shame for the British stateââ, going on to quote the prime minister as saying the scandal had resulted from a âmoral failure at the heart of our national lifeâ.
Under its headline, the i says that victims are demanding change, while quoting a grieving daughter who says that Sunakâs apology is not âworth the paper itâs written onâ.
The story also leads across a number of local papers; The Northern Echo carries testimony from a man whose father died after being infected with HIV. Dave Farry is calling for a criminal investigation.
The Yorkshire Post quotes the MP for Kingston upon Hull North â Dame Diana Johnson â who has been a longtime campaigner on the issue, who said it was a âvindication of the nearly 50 years of campaigning for justiceâ.
The Metro describes it as a ââchillingâ verdict on NHS catastropheâ, under the headline â40 years of bloody cover upâ.
The Mail carries the story across its entire front page, with the headline âDay that shames the British stateâ.
The Times says corporate manslaughter charges are being called for, describing it as âBritainâs day of shame over tainted NHS bloodâ.