RISHI SUNAK was heckled today by victims and their families of the infected blood scandal as the Prime Minister was questioned at the inquiry over delays in compensation.

Mr Sunak was greeted by protesters outside the hearing in Westminster, London, calling on the PM to provide full payments to those affected by contaminated blood products given to haemophilia and other patients in the 1970s and ’80s — as recommended by the inquiry chairman Sir Brian Langstaff in April.

About 2,900 people died after developing HIV and hepatitis C in what was labelled as the worst disaster in NHS history.

Sir Brian has said an interim compensation scheme should be widened so more people — including orphaned children and parents who lost children — could be compensated.

Under the initial scheme, only victims themselves or bereaved partners can receive an interim payment of around £100,000.

The inquiry has recommended the government establish an arm’s-length compensation body now, and definitely before the final report is made in the autumn.

One person shouted at Mr Sunak during the inquiry: “You don’t listen” as he appeared to try to distance himself from the government failure to establish a compensation scheme for the victims.

Asked by inquiry counsel Jenni Richards KC if he understands that justice delayed is justice denied, he said victims have been “let down for decades by successive governments.

“Having not been at the time responsible for initiating this inquiry in 2017 when it was announced and determining its terms of reference, it’s hard for me to second guess the process that was envisaged at the time or what I would have done differently,” he said.

The PM’s promise that the government’s “extensive” work on the scheme “continues at pace” was also laughed at by observers.

Twins Meg Parsons and Liz Gardner carried pictures of their brother Robert Gibbs, who was infected with HIV, as they joined the protest.

He was cared for by his sisters during the last weeks of his life.

Ms Parsons said when their brother died it “destroyed” the family, their parents divorced and both moved to other countries.

Ms Gardner said the family were told their brother’s case was “isolated” and they “never imagined the scale of what was happening.”

“So many families suffered in the way we suffered,” she added.

Ms Parsons said they have “quite a high level of angst” against the government for not carrying out Sir Brian’s recommendations, adding that it is more important to them to get justice than to get compensation