“Hurt and anger” over Hillsborough Law could impact Runcorn by-election
People in Liverpool feel “betrayed” as Keir Starmer failed to deliver on his promise of a ‘Hillsborough Law’ before the 36th anniversary of the tragedy.
This could be a decisive factor in the minds of some residents in nearby Runcorn as they head to vote in the by-election on May 1.
Mr Starmer promised at the Labour Conference in Liverpool in September that he would introduce “a law for the 97 that people shouldn't have had to fight so hard to get."
However, he missed his pledge of introducing it before the anniversary on April 15, saying more time was needed to create the “best version” of the legislation.
“It would impose a duty of candour on public officials to try and prevent state cover-ups of that kind and he promised it would be brought forward in time for the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.” Lizzy Buchan explained on the Division Bell podcast.
Not fulfilling his promise, “is a big issue in Liverpool, in Merseyside, and Runcorn is not very far away.”
Lizzy stated: “People I’ve spoken to on the ground say that there’s a lot of hurt and anger about the fact that they feel they’re about to be betrayed on this issue ... Labour activists I’ve spoken to there are concerned about it and MPs from nearby constituencies.”
The polls show Reform is ahead of Labour by 40% to 35% which represents a 20% swing from Labour to Reform since the general election.
It is Mr Starmer’s first by-election as Prime Minister, and if Labour candidate Karen Shore loses, it could be a huge blow for Labour as the constituency has been a Labour stronghold for decades.
Christian Calgie predicted that he’d expect “Labour to hold it by a thousand votes, but as Nigel Farage keeps telling us, this is Labour’s 16th or 17th safest seat in the country so if they’re getting to that level of closeness almost every Labour MP in the country is going to wake up terrified."
Lizzy agreed: “Labour will hopefully clinch it, but Reform have absolutely thrown the kitchen sink at it, and they are doing well in that area.”
To hear more about the local elections taking place next week, the Supreme court’s gender ruling and current affairs, check out this week’s episode of The Division Bell.
Daily Mirror
