Ian Byrne: Why the country — not just Liverpool — needs the Hillsborough Law

Dear readers — Welcome to those of you who survived this weekend’s heatwave. The scorching weather may be over for now, with some showers and even thunder expected. But the real storm has been in our comments section, with our controversial weekend read attracting both positive and negative feedback beneath the line. 

Not one to shy away from the heat, our big story today is an interview with Ian Byrne, whose latest attempt to introduce the “original” Hillsborough Law in parliament was voted down on Friday. The West Derby MP’s candour is on full display, with barbs aimed not just at the government and Keir Starmer, but the establishment and vested interests who have thwarted justice and accountability again and again. Byrne also explained how the “duty of candour” and promise of legal parity clauses in the original version of the bill could help victims of other famous scandals — such as the Post Office affair — gain justice quicker. 

Catch up and coming up:

• Over the weekend, we published “The charisma bypass”, a look into why the current crop of Liverpool politicians don’t seem willing — or able — to snag the limelight. Some of you have called it “thoughtful” and an “interesting analysis” while others found it “harsh” and “unhelpful”. If you haven’t already, make sure you read it for yourself, and join the discussion here.
• This week — in response to several cogent and timely requests from readers, not to mention the news that the council are planning to deploy HMOs to tackle the problem — we’re bringing you a barnstormer about Liverpool’s homeless situation and how the city should address it. 
• And then for your weekend read, we’re investigating why nearly every new build in Liverpool is dressed in cheap-looking cladding. Once the world-leader in attractive steel framed buildings that didn’t require load-bearing outer walls, how come our city is now being drowned in architectural blemishes? The Post is sending beloved local columnist David Lloyd to find out. 

Liverpool Art Fair returns

From today’s sponsor: Liverpool Art Fair returns for its 11th year of celebrating and showcasing the work of local artists. Head down to the Royal Liver Building to see the showcase of over 200 artists from 11th July to 25th August. The Fair prides itself on offering art for every budget, with work starting at just £20 and all pieces under £2000. It continues to bring together local artists with art buyers, supporting creative careers. Alongside the Fair, workshops are being run all summer to encourage visitors to tune into their own artistic side. Admission is free and everyone is encouraged!

For more information on Liverpool Art Fair and its contributors, click here.

The big story: ‘The state is never going to learn from its mistakes — just continue its doom-cycle of cover-ups and destroying lives’

Last week, West Derby MP Ian Byrne introduced a version of the “Hillsborough Law” — officially the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill — into the House of Commons. This version, originally presented by Andy Burnham in 2017, included a legal responsibility for public servants to tell the truth after state-related disasters, and for legal funding to be provided for those affected by them.

He has called its defeat “bitterly disappointing” and has vowed to fight on. But a political commentator has accused him and John McDonnell — who supported Byrne’s introduction of the legislation as a private members bill — of upsetting survivors of the tragedy. As a Hillsborough survivor himself, Byrne spoke to The Post to set the record straight, and explain why it’s not just victims of Hillsborough who can benefit from the bill’s introduction. 

What’s the current situation with the Hillsborough Law?

Ian Byrne: “There have been negotiations going on for over six months now. The government has been rolling back on the original 2017 version. In March, they produced an extremely watered down version which they called the Hillsborough Law, which was rejected by the lawyers who drafted the original bill. Further negotiations led to an impasse, [so] six weeks ago we started pushing in parliament which led to me getting [the opportunity for] a ten-minute rule bill and laying down the Hillsborough law first introduced by Andy Burnham in 2017, and which the Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised us in 2022 and 2024. That’s what was rejected on Friday. The ball’s in the government’s court now. In fact, it’s in Keir Starmer’s.”

What are the sticking points?

Ian Byrne: “The first is the duty of candour clause. Basically, if a public official goes to an inquest, an inquiry — any investigation of substance — then he or she must tell the truth or face criminal sanctions. If that had been in play in so many of the scandals that we've seen — including Hillsborough, where police officers and other public officials lied with absolute impunity — that would have made a hell of a difference, getting justice far quicker. Morally, it’s the right thing to do, but financially, it’s the right thing to do as well. The other [sticking point] is the guarantee of legal parity.”

If politicians are against public officials having a duty of candour, is the only implication that they want public officials to be able to lie?

Ian Byrne: “Well, exactly. The people who are pushing back against that now are the ones who don't want accountability or transparency. They want the status quo to remain, which has caused so many issues for this country and caused so much harm. Not just in relation to Hillsborough, but also the contaminated blood scandal — I’ve got a friend who lost a dad and a brother to that. [Then] we’ve had so many people in Merseyside touched by the Post Office scandal. These are all state cover-ups that have done immeasurable damage to the country’s people and reputation.”

Is there anything to the suggestion that certain people in power might be against [the Public Authority Accountability Bill] because of the “Hillsborough” nickname — a kind of residual bigotry against Scousers?

Ian Byrne: “No, not at all, no. It’s about [the fact they oppose] accountability. It’s about transparency. It’s about vested interests.”

Over the weekend, you and John McDonnell were criticised on X by the political commentator Tan Smith for upsetting the victims or families of Hillsborough for “giving the impression they’ll never get a bill, whilst knowing [the private members bill] likely wouldn’t pass”. 

Ian Byrne: “I wouldn’t give that oxygen. I’ve responded and that’s been dealt with. It’s like it came from the government. That’s just another example of the smears and the lies around Hillsborough. Anybody who tries to get to the truth, have accountability, or change the status quo is smeared and lied against.”

So about what happens next. You say the ball is in Keir Starmer’s court. 

Ian Byrne: “He made those personal commitments — to Liverpool as a city, to the Hillsborough families and survivors. And he’s the most eminently qualified Prime Minister, potentially in history, to understand why this is so important. It's down to him to push past the vested interests and those that want to maintain no accountability.”

And what’s your next move?

Ian Byrne: “I’ll make sure the fight continues. No one's going to go away. We've been in this a long time now. On Saturday I spoke to the parents of an 18-year-old victim of Hillsborough who are in their 80s now, and what they asked was very powerful: “Ian, are we still going to be here to see the Hillsborough Law — one of the legacies for our son?”

Do you think that the political and legislative establishment have been surprised over the decades that Hillsborough just hasn't gone away?

Ian Byrne: “Survivors were underestimated by the establishment. I’ve met so many unbelievable people who are just such campaigners for justice. Just this morning, [Hillsborough campaigner] Margaret Aspinall was on BBC Breakfast saying exactly how it is. Formidable campaigners like that just won’t go away. Now the Prime Minister knows that, and the establishment knows that as well. As someone who was at Hillsborough, I’m now in a position where I can fight for justice too. And I’m not going to rest while I’ve got a breath in my body. Not just for those who died at Hillsborough, but for everybody who’s been wronged by the state, because otherwise the state is never going to learn from its mistakes — it’s just going to continue in this doom-cycle of cover-ups and people getting their lives destroyed.”

Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Photo of the week

We absolutely love this sunny snapshot of the Bramley Moore Hotel, taken by Reddit user u/Ichbingen last week. You can find them on Instagram at @ichbingen, too. 

Have a photo to share? Email it to editor@livpost.co.uk for a chance to be featured in our Monday editions.

Your Post briefing

A child has died at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after contracting measles. Cases of the virus have been on the rise after a fall in vaccine rates in the region, with Alder Hey telling the BBC it has seen a surge in “seriously unwell” children being admitted as a result. So far, 17 children have been treated at the hospital for measles since June. The World Health Organization (WHO) wants 95% of children fully vaccinated by their fifth birthday — in Liverpool, that figure stands at just 73%. Earlier this year, we covered the rise of vaccine scepticism and measles outbreaks. Read that piece here. 

On the grapevine: Last year, Abi published an investigation into failures at LIPA Primary and High School. Now, those seem to have been cemented in a recent damning OFSTED report, which rated LIPA Primary as “inadequate” all round. Inspectors found that children felt “scared or threatened by the poor behaviour of other pupils”; the quality of education that pupils receive has declined; staff lack the expertise and knowledge to support pupils with special educational needs; the school is “slow to react” when pupils are absent leading to serious safeguarding concerns, and the school does not have “sufficient supervision” on their premises. As a result of this OFSTED report, the trust in charge of LIPA Primary has been urged to take “immediate action” to stabilise the school. 

A Sefton Council meeting on Thursday descended into acrimony after a row began over 5G masts and immigration. Councillors were due to discuss the renovation of Southport Town Hall’s gardens in tribute to Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Aguiar and Bebe King — the three girls killed in the Southport attack in July last year. However, after one member of the public interjected to ask whether the council had rejected applications for 5G masts on health grounds, protestors began shouting at the cabinet, raising questions about immigration and net zero before telling councillors to “shut up”. The Mayor of Sefton, June Burns, adjourned the meeting before plans for the tribute garden could be approved. 

And an uplifting story from Birkenhead. 17-year-old Dylan Williams has set up a homelessness organisation, Step to Shelter, over the water and has his own team of volunteers helping to tackle the housing crisis. While he admits he was a nuisance growing up (he told ITV he used to “drive around on an electric bike in a balaclava, getting into police chases”) he said as he grew older he realised he wanted to “support [his] community", helping vulnerable people in Birkenhead find a safe place to live. Read more about his heart-warming story here. 

Open newsroom

Have a story or tip you want to share with The Post? Email editor@livpost.co.uk with any information. We’re always looking to cover tales of wrongdoing and corruption within Merseyside, and all tips will be treated with the utmost sensitivity, and we will keep you anonymous in the first instance. 

Post Picks

🎨On Thursday,  Black Lodge Brewery Taproom in West Kirby is hosting a collage session. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner looking to try something new, why not give it a go? All materials will be provided.

🪩On Friday, DYSCO on Stanley Street is hosting a Liverpool Pride fundraiser. The event starts at 6.45pm and includes a raffle — with a chance to win tickets to events and experiences. Find out more here.

📽️And one we’re very excited about here at Post HQ. Celebrate 50 years of JAWS at Videodyssey, Toxteth TV with live art, LEGO, a quiz and more. Tickets are £8, or £6 for those who live in L8. Find out more here.

Recommended reads

📖A recommended read from our sister title over in Manchester. This piece on grammar schools explores the decision-making by parents to send their children there, and how often that comes into conflict with their political views. “I love my children more than I love the principle of meritocracy, apparently,” one parent told The Mill. Read that here.

Thanks again to Liverpool Art Fair for sponsoring this edition.