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17 October 2011
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The prime minister has been called upon to apologise for failures surrounding the Hillsborough tragedy as the House of Commons debated the release of all documents relating to the disaster.
Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram was backed in the call by shadow health secretary Andy Burnham who said there had been a campaign to blame the fans.
Ninety-six fans were died in the disaster in April 1989.
The debate was sparked by 140,000 people signing an e-petition.
Mr Rotheram, whose Walton constituency includes Liverpool's Anfield ground, said David Cameron had delivered a Commons apology to the victims of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry and called on him to do the same for those affected by Hillsborough.
'Victory for people' "I call on the prime minister to make a statement in this house and apologise for the mistakes that were made and the mishandling of this whole tragedy on behalf of a previous government," he said.
Mr Rotheram said the debate was a "victory for democracy, a victory for people power but it remains to be seen whether it will be a victory for the families".
But he told fellow MPs: "It doesn't matter how long it takes, we will never stop fighting for justice for the 96."
The Labour MP read out the names of all those died.
He urged the Commons to support a backbench motion calling for the full, uncensored disclosure of government-related documents, including cabinet minutes, relating to the disaster.
Home Secretary Theresa May said she supported Mr Rotheram's motion and said she would do everything in her power to make sure the families and public would get the truth.
No documents would be kept from the Hillsborough Independent Panel, she said. Minimal redaction by the panel may be necessary, she added.
'Act of brutality' Mr Burnham, speaking for the opposition, said the disaster and the events following it, were "one of the biggest injustices of the 20th century".
He said moves to blame the victims for the tragedy were "unprecedented". He added: "It was an unbelievable act of brutality against the 96 fans."
Mr Burnham also read from police papers which quoted an officer who watched as fans used advertising hoardings to ferry the injured.
A senior officer had written that the pages should be amended because "these are his own *feelings" and said the comments showed "they were organised and we were not".
Mr Burnham added: "After a tragedy on this scale, the denial of families rights and the denigration of their friends and fellow supporters is a national scandal.
"When the panel reports it will require an appropriate national response."
He said the House of Commons coming together behind the families of the 96 who had died was a "huge moment".
Esther McVey, Conservative for Wirral West, said it was "time for action" and time for all the documents to be disclosed.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.House of Commons live
The prime minister has been called upon to apologise for failures surrounding the Hillsborough tragedy as the House of Commons debated the release of all documents relating to the disaster.
Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram was backed in the call by shadow health secretary Andy Burnham who said there had been a campaign to blame the fans.
Ninety-six fans were died in the disaster in April 1989.
The debate was sparked by 140,000 people signing an e-petition.
Mr Rotheram, whose Walton constituency includes Liverpool's Anfield ground, said David Cameron had delivered a Commons apology to the victims of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry and called on him to do the same for those affected by Hillsborough.
'Victory for people' "I call on the prime minister to make a statement in this house and apologise for the mistakes that were made and the mishandling of this whole tragedy on behalf of a previous government," he said.
Mr Rotheram said the debate was a "victory for democracy, a victory for people power but it remains to be seen whether it will be a victory for the families".
But he told fellow MPs: "It doesn't matter how long it takes, we will never stop fighting for justice for the 96."
The Labour MP read out the names of all those died.
He urged the Commons to support a backbench motion calling for the full, uncensored disclosure of government-related documents, including cabinet minutes, relating to the disaster.
Home Secretary Theresa May said she supported Mr Rotheram's motion and said she would do everything in her power to make sure the families and public would get the truth.
No documents would be kept from the Hillsborough Independent Panel, she said. Minimal redaction by the panel may be necessary, she added.
'Act of brutality' Mr Burnham, speaking for the opposition, said the disaster and the events following it, were "one of the biggest injustices of the 20th century".
He said moves to blame the victims for the tragedy were "unprecedented". He added: "It was an unbelievable act of brutality against the 96 fans."
Mr Burnham also read from police papers which quoted an officer who watched as fans used advertising hoardings to ferry the injured.
A senior officer had written that the pages should be amended because "these are his own *feelings" and said the comments showed "they were organised and we were not".
Mr Burnham added: "After a tragedy on this scale, the denial of families rights and the denigration of their friends and fellow supporters is a national scandal.
"When the panel reports it will require an appropriate national response."
He said the House of Commons coming together behind the families of the 96 who had died was a "huge moment".
Esther McVey, Conservative for Wirral West, said it was "time for action" and time for all the documents to be disclosed.
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