Ian Byrne MP calls for Hillsborough education in schools as part of ‘The Real Truth’ legacy project
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, who survived the Hillsborough disaster, has today told Parliament that the tragedy should be taught in schools as part of the national curriculum.
He has so far received support from 30 MPs that the events from the past 32 years and the continuing campaign for justice should be included in schools’ education programmes.
Byrne has previously spoken movingly in Parliament about his experiences of the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in 1989. Earlier this year, he fought back tears as he recalled being left "questioning my own eyes" after "smears" and "lies" were pushed by the police and other establishment figures.
Survivors and the families of the 97 fans who lost their lives as a result of the disaster have been involved in a three-decade campaign in pursuit of justice and Ian Byrne MP will be working with some of them on ‘The Real Truth’ Legacy Project.
The aim of ‘The Real Truth’ is to educate future generations about the injustice and comprehensive establishment cover-up of Hillsborough and it contains two main elements:
First is a political education toolkit which can be used by trade unions and Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) and like-minded organisations that want to learn more about Hillsborough. Political education on 'The Real Truth' at Hillsborough will be made available, with significant input from families, survivors and leading Hillsborough campaigners. Hillsborough 'The Real Truth' will focus on the fight for justice and provide a definitive record of the social history of Hillsborough.
The second element of the project is the campaign to get education about Hillsborough onto the National Curriculum, including a dedicated “Hillsborough Day” to take place on the nearest Friday to the anniversary of the tragedy on 15th April each year.
The Hillsborough Day would see every Liverpool school taking part in a special assembly and there will be a particular focus on Professor Phil Scraton's influential book, ' Hillsborough - The Truth ', the definitive account of the disaster and its aftermath.
Mr Byrne has today tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) - a formal motion submitted for debate in Parliament - which states:
"That this House acknowledges that, 32 years after the Hillsborough disaster, criminal trials collapsed in May 2021 and nobody has been held to account for the unlawful killings of 97 innocent people.
"(It) acknowledges that it took 23 years of campaigning for the truth about the disaster to be finally acknowledged at the Hillsborough Independent Panel and for lies and smears about victims and survivors to be corrected.
"(It) further acknowledges that it took 27 years for the true inquest verdicts of unlawful killing to be recorded.
"(It) recognises the important work of the honourable member for Garston and Halewood (Labour's Maria Eagle) in getting Parliament to learn lessons from the disaster and her work to introduce legislation that would ensure that bereaved families and survivors of future disasters never go through the injustices faced by the Hillsborough families and survivors.
"(It) furthermore recognises the important role of education in learning the lessons from the disaster, and calls on the Government to include the Hillsborough disaster in the national curriculum, a programme of education which should cover the events of the past 32 years, the continuing campaign for justice and how we ensure the events of that fateful day are not forgotten and that the ensuing miscarriage of justice is never repeated."
Maria Eagle MP has tabled proposals to create a dedicated independent adviser to work on behalf of families bereaved in major disasters via her Public Advocate Bill.
Media coverage:
Teach children about Hillsborough and the fight for justice, urges Liverpool MP Ian Byrne: www.itv.com/news/granada/2021-11-17/teach-children-about-hillsborough-and-the-fight-for-justice-urge-mps
Plan for Hillsborough education programme and dedicated 'Hillsborough Day: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/plan-hillsborough-education-programme-dedicated-22140700
Hillsborough: Teach children about the disaster, MPs say: Hillsborough: Teach children about the disaster, MPs say - BBC News
Calls for kids to learn about Hillsborough disaster at school: https://planetradio.co.uk/city/local/news/calls-for-kids-to-learn-about-hillsborough-disaster/
Hillsborough: Schoolchildren should be taught about tragedy and the fight for justice, say MPs: Hillsborough: Schoolchildren should be taught about tragedy and the fight for justice, say MPs | UK News | Sky News
MPs call for Hillsborough and the fight for justice to be taught in schools: MPs call for Hillsborough and the fight for justice to be taught in schools - The Guide Liverpool
Plan for Hillsborough education programme and dedicated 'Hillsborough Day': Plan for Hillsborough education programme and dedicated 'Hillsborough Day' (msn.com)
Teach schoolchildren about Hillsborough and the fight for justice, urge MPs: Teach schoolchildren about Hillsborough and the fight for justice, urge MPs | The Northern Echo