A Bradford MP has accused the Government of betraying thousands of workers suffering from an asbestos-related disease after ministers decided not to overturn a legal ruling on compensation.

Terry Rooney said the fight was not over and backbenchers would not stop until pleural plaque sufferers were given justice.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw had said people who had started a legal claim for compensation would be given a £5,000 payment, which campaigners estimated would affect 6,000 people.

Mr Rooney said: “This is not the end and we will keep fighting until we get justice. Backbenchers have supplied medical evidence and pleural plaques is an injury and causes changes in respiration, therefore it is compensatable. The fight definitely goes on.”

The construction workers’ union Ucatt accused the Government of “abandoning” sufferers, while the Scottish parliament overturned the Lords ruling.

Ucatt General secretary Alan Ritchie said: “The Government’s decision is disappointing – most pleural plaques victims are being abandoned.”

West Yorkshire lawyer Ian Bailey, who heads the asbestos-related illness team at law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “It’s unacceptable that anyone should be left with a fatal illness because their health was not protected at work and we will fight for justice for every one of our clients.”