Kate Osborne MP: Hillsborough Campaign victory means generations can count on greater accountability and justice

It’s been a bit of a week in Parliament – the absolutely emotional scenes with the Hillsborough Law finally passing. It was moving to vote for this legislation and meet the families, we will now finally have proper protections for people and families failed by institutional wrongdoing, violence, neglect and cover-ups.

As a football fan, I can’t imagine the pain and anguish of those who were systematically demonised and ignored by the establishment over decades, simply for their love of the sport. The victory of the Hillsborough Campaign means that generations to come can count on greater accountability and ultimately justice from the state – this law would have made a huge difference to the Post Office victims – as people know I have been fighting for accountability there for years.

I want to pay tribute to Ian Byrne MP for pushing this legislation through but also to Andy Burnham who has championed their cause from the very beginning and who will take office as our Prime Minister on Monday.

Our new Prime Minister must show how Labour is prepared to make a clean break from the caution of our government's first two years in power.

I know that families in Jarrow and Gateshead East voted for change in 2024 because they wanted to see their lives improve, public services rebuilt and politics start working for ordinary working people again.

Across South Tyneside and the wider North East region, people have waited long enough to see the investment, opportunities and economic renewal our communities deserve. Although it’s clear that progress has been made, too many people still feel they are waiting for the change they voted for.

It is a special year for our area as we mark the 90th anniversary of the famous Jarrow Crusade. In October 1936, 200 proud and dignified men set off from Jarrow all the way to London demanding work, dignity and hope for their community.

Too many across the North East are still asking where the secure, skilled jobs are, where the investment has gone and when opportunity will finally reach us. Regional inequality did not happen by accident. It is the result of ideologically-driven, political choices, and it needs to be put right.

One of the defining priorities of an Andy Burnham-led Labour Government should be a serious programme of investment in the North East. We need industrial renewal that creates skilled, well-paid jobs, protects strategic industries and gives regional and local government the resources to improve transport, regenerate our town centres and rebuild public services after years of decline.

Alongside economic renewal, there are long-overdue reforms that cannot be pushed aside any longer.

Separately, protecting our high streets is another issue that matters greatly to local people. Across my constituency I have worked alongside Northumbria Police, South Tyneside Council, Gateshead Council, Trading Standards and local businesses to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco, unsafe vapes and counterfeit goods.

Stronger powers from the government are welcome, but they must be backed by proper enforcement and coordinated action between police, HMRC, Trading Standards and local authorities.

SEND reform must also be shaped with families rather than imposed upon them.

I recently brought together parents, young people, education professionals and the Minister for School Standards, Georgia Gould, here in South Tyneside to discuss the changes families want to see. Too many parents are left drained by a system that forces them to fight for assessments and support their children are entitled to receive.

In Parliament this week I held meetings with Ministers to once again push for more for our families and kids with SEND – our constituency has the highest level of primary aged children with SEND in the UK.

We can’t end up with a one-size-fits-all solution. True inclusion means ensuring children receive the right support in the right setting, including specialist provision where that is needed.

Andy has the opportunity to rebuild confidence that politics can make a real difference. That is the challenge of his first 100 days, and I have every confidence he is up to the task.

As we head into the summer recess there will be plenty of opportunity for me to be out and about in the constituency so do invite me along to any events you are hosting, I also want to encourage readers to apply for the Communications Officer role in my constituency office. This post will help me to reach out and engage with local people on my activities.

Details at kate-osborne.co.uk/vacancies or email [email protected]