A CAMPAIGN to compensate haemophiliacs given “bad blood” has been blocked by MPs.

The Contaminated Blood (Support for Infected and Bereaved Persons) Bill aimed to support victims who were given contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s, and to set up a committee to advise on haemophilia.

Among those campaigning for it to become law was David Fielding, from Farnworth. He needed a liver transplant after contracting hepatitis B and C and his brother Brian died in 1990 at the age of 46, after being infected with HIV.

Mr Fielding, aged 54, had been backed by Dr Brian Iddon, MP for Bolton South East.

The Bill passed swiftly through the Lords but has been repeatedly blocked by the Government. A new objection launched on Friday prevented it from making further progress.It was probably the last opportunity for backbench Bills before the general election.

The scandal affected 4,500 haemophiliacs and more than 2,000 victims have died.

An inquiry was held last year but critics say the Government has ignored its recommendations, which had prompted the fight for new laws.