When Cameron spouted on about 'British values'
I shouted at the television screen, screaming the Tories wouldn’t know true
values if they jumped up and bit them on the backside. When I challenged his
supporters on the meaning of British values, no one could give me a definitive
explanation. I gave them an answer – "Go to Liverpool and meet the people." They
didn't like it one bit. I was called 'an idiot', 'ill informed', 'typical red'
and even 'a defender of murderers'. YEP, it is true!
I bring my children up on the 'Liverpool values'
– family; truth; honesty; integrity and fight for justice. I teach mine the
importance of questioning pieces of writing – the motive of the author, the
purpose of the article and to question, with respect, authority if they feel
something is wrong. I even teach them 'respect' is NOT an automatic entitlement
and has to be earned, regardless of who you are. Up to this week, there has
been an inner anxiety that I have set them up to fail in a self-serving,
dishonest world but I do believe they are now more prepared for the future than
most adults I know.
Let me take you back to the late 1970s and
1980s. I am not a Liverpudlian – I am from Leeds and a true northern Yorkshire
lass. My love affair with Liverpool started in the 1970s. My parents are huge Beatles'
fans. We spent lots of family days over in Liverpool searching for all the
Beatle locations, including primary schools, homes, etc. Those family days are
really precious to me and led me to a life-long love of John Lennon and
Liverpool FC. They were the happiest days of my childhood.
For me the 1980s represented then, and still do
now, all that is evil about the Conservative party and the establishment they
created. No one in my family is politically motivated and I have to thank Colin
Burgon for opening my eyes and releasing what was already in my heart –
socialism. I was ridiculed and berated for hating Thatcher but in my heart,
even before Hillsborough, I had this gut feeling of dishonesty and disingenuity
every time she spoke. I was SEVENTEEN. This was in my heart. I should have
known then - always to trust my gut instincts. Then came the Miner's strike. At
times, it felt like I was the only one who could see the Government was using
the police force against its own people – the people they had sworn an oath to
protect and serve. We would denounce any other Government for doing this!! The
1980s was a pure class fight, plain and simple. Thatcher could not follow true
capitalist policies with a strong unionised workforce. I was SEVENTEEN and I
could see it.
During this time, I had to endure racism at its
worst within our extended family. One of our relatives was a police officer and
I remember one day she came round to our house bragging about how she'd got a
confession out of someone. I lost it. I totally let rip. In front of my Dad, I
told her to stick her prejudicial views and her corruption up her a***. I even
told her she was part of a fascist plot against working people. I apologised to
my Dad after – not for what I said but out of respect for him.
Then, came Orgreave. I cried. I was devastated
to watch the lies unfold. To watch the police batter people who only wanted to
save their jobs, feed their families. It was a sad day when the miners were
forced to give up their fight.
Hillsborough was heart breaking. The human
suffering and devastation can never, ever be overstated. Anyone who has spent
time in Liverpool, with Liverpool families, would never, EVER believe the lies
that were told in the aftermath of the disaster. The truth has always been
there and always known by everyone involved. The TRUTH has ALWAYS been there!
A couple of days after the disaster, we
travelled over to Anfield to pay our respects. I remember the long, silent
queue that spanned the perimeter of the fence, which is now the Centenary
Stand. Poems and messages had been written all along the fence. The silence was
overwhelming. A lady came out of her house opposite the ground and came over to
us. She threw her arms around my neck – a complete stranger – and thanked me
for coming to her city. That IS Liverpool; that is MY Liverpool. The city of
kindness and heart-warming friendliness.
Years later, I took Wes to his first Liverpool
game against Barcelona. There was just me and him. When we got in the ground, a
steward smiled and started talking to Wes. He actually walked us to our seat!!
That is MY Liverpool.
Watching the fight, the Hillsborough families
fought, makes me immensely proud. Anne Williams was incredible and such an
inspiration. She didn't ask for the fight but by God, she took it on and was
fierce. I was in awe of her and there is not one word that can possibly explain
how much influence her fight had on my life. She is the reason I am the Mum I
am today. She taught me how to fight for our children, for truth and justice
and she will always be my working class hero.
The Hillsborough verdicts have much wider
implications than Liverpool. They are a catalyst for change and we ALL have a
responsibility to pursue that change – to stop corruption and put those British
values back into the heart of our country – family; truth; honesty and fight
for justice; integrity. Thatcher stole these away from US as a nation, it's
time to bring them back.
I stand by my prediction that, in years to
come, it will be proven beyond doubt, Thatcher will be the worst Prime Minister
in social British history. We know they lied about Hillsborough, I know they
lied about Orgreave, what else have they lied about? The 1980s were rotten to
the core!
The Government need silent compliance; they
need us to roll over and accept their version as the 'truth'. They hate
Liverpool because the people refused to roll over; they refused silent
compliance. They picked on the wrong city and now, as a country, WE ALL need to FIGHT together to ensure
the changes started by the heroism of the Hillsborough families and survivors,
continue until we have a fully accountable establishment and media. Jeremy
Corbyn and John McDonnell have my full support, not just because they are old,
like me, and remember the horrors of the 1980s, but because they are everything
that our public representatives should be – HONEST!!!
Thank you to the Hillsborough families, the
courageous survivors, the honest people who tried to save lives that fateful
day and everyone who wants to see a better world for our children. Most of all
thank you to Anne and Sara xx
Rest in Peace at last 96 angels – you'll never
walk alone
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