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| Justice for the 96 and their families | Justice for the 96 and their families |
| (4 months later) | |
| It was a day like no other in the House of Commons. Fresh from reading the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel the Prime Minister addressed a silent chamber and gave a full apology, followed by Ed Miliband doing likewise. | It was a day like no other in the House of Commons. Fresh from reading the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel the Prime Minister addressed a silent chamber and gave a full apology, followed by Ed Miliband doing likewise. |
| The families of the victims of one of the biggest peacetime disasters in the UK's history have lived for so many years with an air of suspicion over the loved ones that they lost. The sight of all parties ditching political rhetoric and simply saying sorry was momentous; an occasion when the history books were properly put right. | The families of the victims of one of the biggest peacetime disasters in the UK's history have lived for so many years with an air of suspicion over the loved ones that they lost. The sight of all parties ditching political rhetoric and simply saying sorry was momentous; an occasion when the history books were properly put right. |
| The party leaders apologised for the way that South Yorkshire Police, responsible for justice, systematically withdrew negative comments about the force from 116 police statements as part of an institutional effort to discredit the dead and pin the blame, falsely, on the fans. | The party leaders apologised for the way that South Yorkshire Police, responsible for justice, systematically withdrew negative comments about the force from 116 police statements as part of an institutional effort to discredit the dead and pin the blame, falsely, on the fans. |
| They apologised for the actions of all the emergency services, charged with ensuring safety, but failing in their duty of care to those who needed help most. As the report says: | They apologised for the actions of all the emergency services, charged with ensuring safety, but failing in their duty of care to those who needed help most. As the report says: |
| Not only was there delay in recognising that there were mass casualties, the major incident plan was not correctly activated and only limited parts were then put into effect. As a result, rescue and recovery efforts were affected by lack of leadership, co-ordination, prioritisation of casualties and equipment. | Not only was there delay in recognising that there were mass casualties, the major incident plan was not correctly activated and only limited parts were then put into effect. As a result, rescue and recovery efforts were affected by lack of leadership, co-ordination, prioritisation of casualties and equipment. |
| And, perhaps the hardest part to take of all, they apologised for the 41 victims who had the potential to survive had the response from the emergency services been as it should have been. | And, perhaps the hardest part to take of all, they apologised for the 41 victims who had the potential to survive had the response from the emergency services been as it should have been. |
| What followed was a display of unity, a testament to the power that comes from politicians of all sides recognising that some events are so overwhelming that what is needed is not cavilling or questioning but leadership, to bring the country and communities together. In a Parliamentary chamber accustomed to gladiatorial battles over the dispatch box, party allegiances no longer mattered, as recalling the disaster reminded one and all that emotions which unite us as humans are far stronger than politics which divide. | What followed was a display of unity, a testament to the power that comes from politicians of all sides recognising that some events are so overwhelming that what is needed is not cavilling or questioning but leadership, to bring the country and communities together. In a Parliamentary chamber accustomed to gladiatorial battles over the dispatch box, party allegiances no longer mattered, as recalling the disaster reminded one and all that emotions which unite us as humans are far stronger than politics which divide. |
| From Stephen Mosley, Conservative MP for the City of Chester, came a plea on behalf of his constituent Anne Williams, whose 15-year-old son, Kevin died on that day, that the Attorney-General look favourably on ordering a new inquest into his death. | From Stephen Mosley, Conservative MP for the City of Chester, came a plea on behalf of his constituent Anne Williams, whose 15-year-old son, Kevin died on that day, that the Attorney-General look favourably on ordering a new inquest into his death. |
| From Leigh's Labour MP Andy Burnham, who ordered the establishment of the inquiry during his time as secretary of state for culture, media and sport, came certainty that the report "emphatically cleared" the 96 who died of any responsibility for the tragedy. | From Leigh's Labour MP Andy Burnham, who ordered the establishment of the inquiry during his time as secretary of state for culture, media and sport, came certainty that the report "emphatically cleared" the 96 who died of any responsibility for the tragedy. |
| From Steve Rotherham, Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, came a powerful argument that while the report had made history, it was now time to "change history" and ensure that a proper investigation takes place into the actions and behaviour of South Yorkshire police officers. | From Steve Rotherham, Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, came a powerful argument that while the report had made history, it was now time to "change history" and ensure that a proper investigation takes place into the actions and behaviour of South Yorkshire police officers. |
| From David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary whose constituency includes the Hillsborough stadium, came this thought-provoking observation: | From David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary whose constituency includes the Hillsborough stadium, came this thought-provoking observation: |
| One of the lessons that has to come out of this is surely that cover-ups can only cause, and continue to cause, the greatest hurt and harm to those involved, and that in a democracy transparency and openness must be, and always will be, the right way forward to get to the truth. | One of the lessons that has to come out of this is surely that cover-ups can only cause, and continue to cause, the greatest hurt and harm to those involved, and that in a democracy transparency and openness must be, and always will be, the right way forward to get to the truth. |
| From Labour's Alison McGovern, MP for Wirral South, who struggled to hold back tears, came praise for the dignity of the families during their long campaign. She told the chamber: | From Labour's Alison McGovern, MP for Wirral South, who struggled to hold back tears, came praise for the dignity of the families during their long campaign. She told the chamber: |
| No words in the English language are good enough to describe the dignity, grace and courage shown by the families of the 96 loved ones we lost at Hillsborough. The police failed them, then the legal system failed them, but they never failed. Today we come together to receive the truth. | No words in the English language are good enough to describe the dignity, grace and courage shown by the families of the 96 loved ones we lost at Hillsborough. The police failed them, then the legal system failed them, but they never failed. Today we come together to receive the truth. |
| And from Clive Betts, Labour's MP for Sheffield South East who, on the day of the disaster was leader of Sheffield City Council came an "unreserved apology on behalf of the city council for its failings in that terrible tragedy." | And from Clive Betts, Labour's MP for Sheffield South East who, on the day of the disaster was leader of Sheffield City Council came an "unreserved apology on behalf of the city council for its failings in that terrible tragedy." |
| And what of the papers? | And what of the papers? |
| It is worth repeating the apology issued by the Sun. For years the people of Liverpool have felt only anger and contempt for the paper which gave such prominence to false stories about the fans. Now its editorial says: | It is worth repeating the apology issued by the Sun. For years the people of Liverpool have felt only anger and contempt for the paper which gave such prominence to false stories about the fans. Now its editorial says: |
| The Sun's reporting of the Hillsborough tragedy 23 years ago is without doubt the blackest day in this newspaper's history. | The Sun's reporting of the Hillsborough tragedy 23 years ago is without doubt the blackest day in this newspaper's history. |
| The Hillsborough Independent Panel's report into the disaster lays bare the disgraceful attempt by South Yorkshire Police to hide their culpability behind a smokescreen of lies. | The Hillsborough Independent Panel's report into the disaster lays bare the disgraceful attempt by South Yorkshire Police to hide their culpability behind a smokescreen of lies. |
| It highlights a concerted campaign by senior officers to smear the innocent by fabricating lurid allegations about Liverpool fans — and then feeding them to the media. | It highlights a concerted campaign by senior officers to smear the innocent by fabricating lurid allegations about Liverpool fans — and then feeding them to the media. |
| But it is to the eternal discredit of the Sun that we reported as fact this misinformation which tarnished the reputation of Liverpool fans including the 96 victims. | But it is to the eternal discredit of the Sun that we reported as fact this misinformation which tarnished the reputation of Liverpool fans including the 96 victims. |
| Today we unreservedly apologise to the Hillsborough victims, their families, Liverpool supporters, the city of Liverpool and all our readers for that misjudgment. | Today we unreservedly apologise to the Hillsborough victims, their families, Liverpool supporters, the city of Liverpool and all our readers for that misjudgment. |
| The role of a newspaper is to uncover injustice. To forensically examine the claims made by those who are in positions of power. | The role of a newspaper is to uncover injustice. To forensically examine the claims made by those who are in positions of power. |
| In the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy we failed. | In the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy we failed. |
| Picking up on the Anfield anthem, the Guardian says: | Picking up on the Anfield anthem, the Guardian says: |
| The nation sang that they would never walk alone; that is precisely what the self-serving authorities left them to do. | The nation sang that they would never walk alone; that is precisely what the self-serving authorities left them to do. |
For the Independent : | For the Independent : |
| After truth should come justice, David Cameron told the Commons. That must mean re-opening the inquests into the Hillsborough deaths. It must mean criminal proceedings against senior police officers and others, for perverting the course of justice or misconduct in public office. But it also raises questions about why it took an independent panel to succeed, where police, lawyers, judges, journalists and politicians failed. What has been revealed is a stain on Britain's reputation that no amount of scrubbing can remove. | After truth should come justice, David Cameron told the Commons. That must mean re-opening the inquests into the Hillsborough deaths. It must mean criminal proceedings against senior police officers and others, for perverting the course of justice or misconduct in public office. But it also raises questions about why it took an independent panel to succeed, where police, lawyers, judges, journalists and politicians failed. What has been revealed is a stain on Britain's reputation that no amount of scrubbing can remove. |
And perhaps the final words for now should go to the Liverpool Echo which writes movingly: | And perhaps the final words for now should go to the Liverpool Echo which writes movingly: |
| The bereaved families, driven on and inspired by love and the need to know exactly how and why their loved ones died, deserve enormous respect and admiration. | The bereaved families, driven on and inspired by love and the need to know exactly how and why their loved ones died, deserve enormous respect and admiration. |
| They have been repeatedly beaten down and clearly expected to give up and go away by the powers-that-be. But despite facing the might of the Establishment, they have refused to lie down and refused to accept that they would never get the full story of Hillsborough. | They have been repeatedly beaten down and clearly expected to give up and go away by the powers-that-be. But despite facing the might of the Establishment, they have refused to lie down and refused to accept that they would never get the full story of Hillsborough. |
| Each year, not least at the memorial service at Anfield, we have witnessed the families' dignity and desire to honour and remember the 96 men, women and children who died after going to watch a football match. | Each year, not least at the memorial service at Anfield, we have witnessed the families' dignity and desire to honour and remember the 96 men, women and children who died after going to watch a football match. |
| And throughout nearly a quarter of a century we have seen their steely determination and stoicism as they have continued to ask the basic questions which others have continued to refuse to answer. | And throughout nearly a quarter of a century we have seen their steely determination and stoicism as they have continued to ask the basic questions which others have continued to refuse to answer. |
| This is why, on this landmark day, we salute all those who have campaigned for the full story. You are a credit to this city – and a credit to your families. | This is why, on this landmark day, we salute all those who have campaigned for the full story. You are a credit to this city – and a credit to your families. |
| Ed Jacobs is a political consultant at the Leeds based Public Affairs Company and devolution correspondent for the centre-left political and policy blog, Left Foot Forward. | Ed Jacobs is a political consultant at the Leeds based Public Affairs Company and devolution correspondent for the centre-left political and policy blog, Left Foot Forward. |
| Investigations by the Guardian's David Conn were instrumental in the creation of the Hillsborough Independent Panel. You can read his analysis and full coverage of the report and its aftermath here. | Investigations by the Guardian's David Conn were instrumental in the creation of the Hillsborough Independent Panel. You can read his analysis and full coverage of the report and its aftermath here. |
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