News from Southampton Labour

Labour MP celebrates victory for asbestos victims

After lobbying from John Denham the coalition government confirm continuation of Labour’s pleural plaques payments.

Southampton Itchen MP has been successful in his campaign for justice for asbestos victims as the new Justice Minister confirms to him that the new government will not over-turn a scheme of compensation for pleural plaques announced by the Labour Government earlier this year.

The scheme will provide one off payments of £5,000 to individuals who have begun, but not resolved, a legal claim for compensation for pleural plaques at the time of the Hose of Lords ruling in 2007.

Mr Denham said: “I have been campaigning on behalf of victims of asbestos for years, and I know Labour’s Pleural Plaques Payments were widely welcomed by many people in Southampton who had been exposed to asbestos during their working lives.

“I’m pleased to see that the new government has come to the correct decision and will be maintaining these payments.”