Video: Steve Rotheram Brings Hillsborough Debate to Parliament

By: Noel | October 18th, 2011

Most will be aware of Monday’s historic Hillsborough debate in parliament and that it seems a massive step towards the truth winning out has finally been taken, a shifting mood in the halls of power at last giving hope that after far too long justice—or at the very least some kind of closure—might be within sight. Some will also have read transcripts of the many moving speeches on the day, from those with Liverpool ties as well as from MPs with connections to both Nottingham Forest, Liverpool’s opponents at Hillsborough, and to Sheffield where the match was scheduled to take place. It seems worthwhile in any case to share video of Steve Rotheram’s entire opening address to parliament for the many who will not have had a chance to see it at the time.

There is very little to be added through excessive introductory commentary. In full, the speech is quite long, running nearly thirty minutes. It is inarguably necessary viewing for both those who follow the club as well as for anyone with the slightest interest in the truth of Hillsborough. It follows bellow the fold.

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Category: Hillsborough, Team News

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Nick

I think this needs to be addressed. There is a special place in hell for people like popplewell.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/n...
Red2death

I don't understand what he hopes to achieve by those remarks. He knows that the truth will come out very soon - that battle's finally been won. And when it does come out he'll end up looking like a right insensitive paranoid twat. So why not just keep quiet for now and hopefully maintain some dignity...
JPR

96 innocent souls lose their lives in a horrific tragedy. The grieving families' most urgent need is for the truth. Without that there can never be closure. How could anyone deny them that? Now, after 22 years of debate and a massive effort to obtain it, they are still waiting.

Anyone who listens to Steve Rotherham's speech in Parliament will not for a single moment doubt that every single word spoken is indeed the truth.
Stone Cold

I was reading in the bbc footy news that there is a new petition for that shit newspaper to disclose the shit sources that they used for their shit story. The numbers for that petition are climbing rapidly as it was around 14,000 this morning and is now at 23,000. The link is in this bbc article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-e... Again, however, you MUST be either a UK citizen or resident (yeah, i get to sign!) to sign up. Truly these victories attest to the fact that we are not walking alone!
Ryan

I watched it all. Great man. Great speech. Ed and Noel, thank you for always keeping us informed. For a Liverpool news website, the information on Hillsborough and the 96 has to be shared and noted by the readers, or else the sporting news becomes irrelevant, if it wasn't already. I'm glad I am able to use the internet to share my compassion for Liverpool with others across the world. The discussions we have might seem like silly talk from couch-spectators, but when you realize that some of us don't know any Liverpool fans to talk to face to face, the help this site brings is immense. One of the many things we've learned from this debate about what happened at Hillsborough is that the media can't be trusted when it can't be held accountable, even in the heart of Merseyside. And with so many fans scattered around the globe, informative websites like this one help spread the truth by giving us the opportunity to embrace the opinions of other people with the same priority in mind: The Liverpool fans. I'm not glorifying your writing as being 100% correct, but its the combination of our criticisms that filters out the lies, created by those with other agendas than Liverpool's.

In closing, I truthfully admit that I would rather wait another 20 years for a league title than to have our history tainted. I support Kenny Dalglish 100% because I know he would say the same thing. If any player thinks differently, then there shouldn't even be room for them with the Reserves, the only other club in Liverpool (that I'm aware of, I have the eyes of a bull that only see red...or is it the other way around..).
redtrev73

Well in Ryan. As an infrequent match-goer I'm lucky enough to experience what a lot of our compadres on here would give their left nut (or equivalent female anatomical sacrifice) to enjoy. However I'm firmly in the worshipping-from-afar camp also, due to geographical misfortune. Also, at 38, I have all-too-painful memories of both Heysel and Hillsborough.

However, the best thing about this particular forum is the sheer love and enthusiasm for the club that emanates from almost all the contributors, irrespective of their age or location in relation to Anfield. It's painfully clear that these people feel the sting of defeat, the elation of victory and the frustration with Chaz and Andy just as keenly as any season-ticket holder. That is what makes LFC so special - the raw passion it engenders in its followers.

Having experienced the horror of that day in Sheffield as a Liverpool fan and the dark times that followed, I can never view Kenny Dalglish as anything other than the dignified spiritual leader of our great club. I watched with awe as he attended funeral after funeral, commemoration after commemoration and offered consolation to the families of the 96. The experience took it's toll and he eventually succumbed to it but not until almost a year later, with two more trophies to honour the dead. This doesn't mean I won't disagree with his decisions occasionally but I reserve the right to become intensely angry with any 'fan' that fails to show the man the respect he is due.

My thanks go to the likes of Andy Burnham and Steve Rotherham for not forgetting, for not being brow-beaten by the corruption in authority. My continued admiration goes to Kenny Dalglish for his ceaseless work from minute-one. He is an incredible man and I salute him.

Finally, let's all wish the families of the 96 some calm and peace at last.
Suarez from the car park...

well said guys.