Latest news with #HillsboroughLaw
Sky News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Hillsborough bereaved hit out at reported appointment of former Sun editor to senior government role
Families bereaved by the Hillsborough disaster have urged Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider the reported appointment of a former Sun editor to a senior government role. David Dinsmore, who edited the tabloid newspaper from 2013 to 2015 and is now the chief operating officer of its parent company News UK, is expected to become permanent secretary for communications. In a letter to the prime minister, Hillsborough families have claimed he is "manifestly unsuitable" for the role because of his association with The Sun, which is widely reviled on Merseyside because of its reporting of the tragedy. In 1989, four days after the stadium crush, The Sun's front page had the headline 'The Truth' and included unfounded claims that some Liverpool fans had urinated on police officers resuscitating the dying, and that some had stolen from the dead. The reporting led to a city-wide boycott that remains in place to this day. The letter to Sir Keir said: "After the Hillsborough disaster in the midst of unimaginable suffering among the bereaved and the survivors, the Sun newspaper published vicious lies about the conduct of fans. "Graphic and false allegations cast the deceased and those who survived as barbaric, feckless and inhumane." The signatories, which include survivors and victims of other scandals, called Mr Dinsmore "manifestly unsuitable for public appointment". They also highlighted delays to the long-promised Hillsborough Law, adding: "This appointment gives us less reason to trust the government. "It risks damaging public confidence in the state among those affected by Hillsborough, everyone connected to Liverpool, and all who feel solidarity with them." The Sun apologised for its coverage of Hillsborough in 2012, after an independent panel concluded that no Liverpool fans were responsible in any way for the disaster, and that the main cause was failings by police which were subsequently covered up. In 2016, an inquest jury found the victims were unlawfully killed. Charlotte Hennessy, who lost her father Jimmy Hennessy in the tragedy when she was six years old, told Sky News the claims in the Sun "is one of the main reasons why we had to fight for so long", as she urged the prime minister to "backtrack on appointing someone so unsuitable for public office as Dinsmore". The decision has also been criticised by Liverpool's Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, who called the appointment a "deeply insensitive choice". "The paper Dinsmore once led printed falsehoods that caused unimaginable pain. That shouldn't be brushed off as a footnote in his CV - it should be a red line," the former Labour MP said on X. Liverpool MPs Ian Byrne, Paula Barker, and Kim Johnson have also written to the prime minister to express concerns. They said that a key requirement of Hillsborough Law, which Sir Keir has promised to put on the statute books in full, is to ensure that senior government officials and civil servants would be legally compelled to tell the truth following a tragedy at the hands of the state. Their letter said: "What sort of message do you believe your appointment of Dinsmore into a senior Government role sends to Hillsborough families and survivors, who have lived through so much pain and suffering at the hands of the publication he has previously edited?". Mr Dinsmore's appointment was first reported by The Telegraph, which described the role as a new position created after the prime minister voiced concerns about government communications late last year. The appointment has not been officially confirmed.
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Labour MPs fume as Keir Starmer appoints former Sun editor to top job
Liverpool MPs Ian Byrne, Paula Barker and Kim Johnson have penned a joint letter to the Prime Minister calling on him to cancel the award of a top Government communications post to David Dinsmore. He was editor of The Scottish Sun for four years from 2006 before moving to London and working as editor of The Sun from 2013 to 2015. Dinsmore comes into the Government from a role as chief operating officer of News UK, the British arm of the Murdoch publishing empire. The Sun is deeply unpopular in Liverpool for slandering people from the city who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 and the paper is referred to throughout the letter as The S*n. Under Dinsmore's watch, The Sun took a photograph of the 15-year-old victim of a paedophile from her Facebook page and published it after pixelating her face. He was fined for a breach of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act after a judge ruled that it remained identifiable to people who were familiar with her social media profile. In 2014, he was named 'sexist of the year' by the End Violence Against Women group which campaigned against The Sun's infamous Page Three. He was mockingly praised for his 'valiant persistence in peddling pornography under the guise of 'news''. These concerns were raised by the three Labour MPs who also told Starmer that his appointment would upset their constituents due to the Hillsborough connection. The letter raised 'grave concerns' about Dinsmore's appointment 'at the same time promising Hillsborough families and survivors that the Hillsborough Law will be introduced'. READ MORE: Donald Trump responds to John Swinney's indyref2 plan It added: 'One of the key asks of the Hillsborough Law we are campaigning for is to ensure that senior Government officials and civil servants would be legally compelled to tell the truth at inquests or inquiries following a tragedy at the hands of the state. 'Prime Minister, what sort of message do you believe your appointment of Dinsmore into a senior Government role sends to Hillsborough families and survivors, who have lived through so much pain and suffering at the hands of the publication he has previously edited?' (Image: Francesco Guidicini/The Sunday Times) The letter also noted that The Sun has faced repeated accusations of 'disinformation, Islamophobia, misogyny and more'. Dinsmore's new role will be permanent secretary for communications, a new position created to improve the Government's messaging to the public. It is a civil service rather than political role. News UK and the UK Government were approached for comment.
ITV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Agreement on Hillsborough Law 'could come in weeks'
The topic was brought up in the House of Lords The Government is 'hopeful' it can come to an agreement on a Hillsborough Law with the families impacted by the disaster 'in the coming weeks and months', the House of Lords has heard. Speaking from the Government front bench, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede said talks 'have been going positively', as peers raised concerns the duty of candour element of the proposed law is being watered down. Labour peer Baroness Chakrabarti said the families of the 97 football fans who died following the 1989 incident feel 'less positive' about its discussions with the Government. The deadly crush occurred during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the football ground in Sheffield. The proposed law would require public bodies to have a duty of candour, meaning they would need to co-operate with official inquiries and tell the truth in the aftermath of major disasters – or face criminal sanctions. A previous deadline set by Labour, that the Bill would be passed before the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in April, has been missed. The Government had said it needed more time to finalise the Bill. A draft Bill has been criticised by campaigners, including the Hillsborough Law Now group, for not containing pledges previously made – including the duty of candour. Lady Chakrabarti told the upper chamber on Thursday: 'I'm grateful to (the minister), as always, for repeating the Government's commitment to introduce Hillsborough Law, but I'm afraid that the families and their representatives feel a little less positive about the engagement they had so far. 'Some worry that they've been briefed against to the newspapers, and generally speaking, they worry about the dilution that … Lord Storey has warned against.' Lord Ponsonby said he was 'sorry to hear that', adding: 'I am aware of very recent interaction with the families in Liverpool, and what I understand is those talks have been going positively, and it is very much hoped that we able to reach some form of agreement in the coming weeks and months.' He had earlier said: 'Since March, we have listened to stakeholder feedback to ensure that we deliver the best Bill possible. 'This engagement has been constructive and progress has been made. Engagement is ongoing and will continue over the summer.' Liberal Democrat peer Lord Storey said: 'Would he give a clear commitment there will be no watering down of that duty of candour intent when the Bill is published?' Lord Ponsonby replied: 'The Prime Minister has made a personal commitment to the affected families to work with them constructively to come up with an appropriate law. 'Regarding the duty of candour, the Government is clear that what happened following the Hillsborough disaster must never happen again. 'Under the Hillsborough Law, public officials will be bound by duties of candour with criminal and professional consequences. 'We are committed to achieving a true cultural change. The Bill cannot change culture on its own, but it can and should act as a catalyst, and we remain committed to launching a programme to encourage cultural change alongside the Bill.'
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Agreement on Hillsborough Law could come in weeks, peers told
Speaking from the Government frontbench, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede said talks 'have been going positively', as peers raised concerns the duty of candour element of the proposed law is being watered down. Labour peer Baroness Chakrabarti said the families of the 97 football fans who died following the 1989 incident feel 'less positive' about its discussions with the Government. The deadly crush occurred during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the football ground in Sheffield. The proposed law would require public bodies to have a duty of candour, meaning they would need to co-operate with official inquiries and tell the truth in the aftermath of major disasters – or face criminal sanctions. A previous deadline set by Labour, that the Bill would be passed before the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in April, has been missed. The Government had said it needed more time to finalise the Bill. A draft Bill has been criticised by campaigners, including the Hillsborough Law Now group, for not containing pledges previously made – including the duty of candour. Lady Chakrabarti told the upper chamber on Thursday: 'I'm grateful to (the minister), as always, for repeating the Government's commitment to introduce Hillsborough Law, but I'm afraid that the families and their representatives feel a little less positive about the engagement they had so far. 'Some worry that they've been briefed against to the newspapers, and generally speaking, they worry about the dilution that … Lord Storey has warned against.' Lord Ponsonby said he was 'sorry to hear that', adding: 'I am aware of very recent interaction with the families in Liverpool, and what I understand is those talks have been going positively, and it is very much hoped that we able to reach some form of agreement in the coming weeks and months.' He had earlier said: 'Since March, we have listened to stakeholder feedback to ensure that we deliver the best Bill possible. 'This engagement has been constructive and progress has been made. Engagement is ongoing and will continue over the summer.' Liberal Democrat peer Lord Storey said: 'Would he give a clear commitment there will be no watering down of that duty of candour intent when the Bill is published?' Lord Ponsonby replied: 'The Prime Minister has made a personal commitment to the affected families to work with them constructively to come up with an appropriate law. 'Regarding the duty of candour, the Government is clear that what happened following the Hillsborough disaster must never happen again. 'Under the Hillsborough Law, public officials will be bound by duties of candour with criminal and professional consequences. 'We are committed to achieving a true cultural change. The Bill cannot change culture on its own, but it can and should act as a catalyst, and we remain committed to launching a programme to encourage cultural change alongside the Bill.'
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Agreement on Hillsborough Law could come in weeks, peers told
Speaking from the Government frontbench, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede said talks 'have been going positively', as peers raised concerns the duty of candour element of the proposed law is being watered down. Labour peer Baroness Chakrabarti said the families of the 97 football fans who died following the 1989 incident feel 'less positive' about its discussions with the Government. The deadly crush occurred during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the football ground in Sheffield. The proposed law would require public bodies to have a duty of candour, meaning they would need to co-operate with official inquiries and tell the truth in the aftermath of major disasters – or face criminal sanctions. A previous deadline set by Labour, that the Bill would be passed before the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in April, has been missed. The Government had said it needed more time to finalise the Bill. A draft Bill has been criticised by campaigners, including the Hillsborough Law Now group, for not containing pledges previously made – including the duty of candour. Labour peer Baroness Chakrabarti (Yui Mok/PA) Lady Chakrabarti told the upper chamber on Thursday: 'I'm grateful to (the minister), as always, for repeating the Government's commitment to introduce Hillsborough Law, but I'm afraid that the families and their representatives feel a little less positive about the engagement they had so far. 'Some worry that they've been briefed against to the newspapers, and generally speaking, they worry about the dilution that … Lord Storey has warned against.' Lord Ponsonby said he was 'sorry to hear that', adding: 'I am aware of very recent interaction with the families in Liverpool, and what I understand is those talks have been going positively, and it is very much hoped that we able to reach some form of agreement in the coming weeks and months.' He had earlier said: 'Since March, we have listened to stakeholder feedback to ensure that we deliver the best Bill possible. 'This engagement has been constructive and progress has been made. Engagement is ongoing and will continue over the summer.' Liberal Democrat peer Lord Storey said: 'Would he give a clear commitment there will be no watering down of that duty of candour intent when the Bill is published?' Lord Ponsonby replied: 'The Prime Minister has made a personal commitment to the affected families to work with them constructively to come up with an appropriate law. 'Regarding the duty of candour, the Government is clear that what happened following the Hillsborough disaster must never happen again. 'Under the Hillsborough Law, public officials will be bound by duties of candour with criminal and professional consequences. 'We are committed to achieving a true cultural change. The Bill cannot change culture on its own, but it can and should act as a catalyst, and we remain committed to launching a programme to encourage cultural change alongside the Bill.'
