I can still remember, as a young child, hearing the shocking news that something terrible had happened at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989.
Ninety-seven lives were lost that day. But the tragedy was compounded by the decades-long struggle the families faced for truth and justice. Their courage and determination exposed shocking failures in how public authorities responded to disaster. They also inspired countless others – from Grenfell to Windrush – who have had to fight to be heard.
Last week, Parliament took a historic step forward. The Hillsborough Law, introduced by this Labour Government, is our promise that such cover-ups and injustices will never happen again.
This landmark legislation requires public authorities to act with honesty, openness and integrity during investigations, inquiries and inquests. Families who lose loved ones will receive free legal representation, so they are never forced to take on the State alone. And for the first time, it will be a criminal offence for public officials to deliberately mislead the public. This is how we ensure that no family must ever endure what the Hillsborough families went through.
This law would never have happened without a Labour Government. The same is true of the Employment Rights Bill, which will make work better and more secure for everyone in High Peak. I am proud to have been part of the parliamentary committee tasked with bringing these laws through Parliament. But last week, Reform, the Tories and the Lib Dems tried 12 times to weaken new laws that will: give workers access to statutory sick pay and parental leave from day one; ban the practice of sacking workers and re-employing them on worse terms and conditions; and end the use of exploitative zero-hours contracts. The other parties can try all they like – we will not back down. We will deliver the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.
The Hillsborough Law and the Employment Rights Bill are about the same thing: social justice. Standing with families, standing with workers, and standing up for fairness. These are core Labour values, and I am proud to be part of a government putting those values into practice.
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It was announced last week that the Tour de France Femmes route in 2027 will pass over Snake Pass. That is fantastic news for our area. One of the world’s great sporting events will bring international attention to High Peak and the wider Peak District, showcasing our landscape, communities and everything this part of the country has to offer.
But the announcement has also shone a spotlight once again on the long-running concerns over the maintenance and safety of Snake Pass. And once again, Reform-run Derbyshire County Council appears more interested in passing the buck than getting a grip of the problem.
Snake Pass is one of the most iconic and strategically important roads in our region. It links communities across High Peak, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire. It supports local businesses, helps people get to work, and provides vital access to the Peak District for residents and visitors alike.
That is why local people are rightly frustrated that we still seem stuck on the starting line when it comes to securing the repairs and long-term investment the road desperately needs.
Anyone who regularly uses Snake Pass knows the problems all too well. It can be dangerous in poor weather, closures happen far too often, repairs drag on, and unstable ground beneath sections of the route has caused disruption for years. When the road shuts, traffic is pushed onto surrounding routes, journey times rise, nearby communities bear the strain, and local trade suffers as visitors are forced elsewhere.
The response from Derbyshire County Council, based in Matlock and responsible for maintaining the road, has been deeply disappointing. Reform’s time in charge has felt like watching a road traffic accident in slow motion.
Their approach appears to be to throw up their hands and say fixing Snake Pass will cost tens of millions of pounds. But leadership means doing more than listing problems. It means finding solutions.
The council should be preparing a serious proposal to take to Government for further support. Other areas are already bidding for funds to repair and renew major infrastructure, including roads, bridges and tunnels. Unless Reform gets its act together, Derbyshire risks being left behind.
The Government has already committed £7.6 million for safety and improvement works on the route. On top of that, I have joined with local Labour mayors Claire Ward, Oliver Coppard and Andy Burnham to establish the Peak Partnership, which is making the case for investment across our area. One of its clear priorities is Snake Pass.
But we cannot make the strongest case for further funding unless Derbyshire County Council does its job, identifies what needs doing, and comes forward with a credible plan.
With the Tour de France Femmes coming and the eyes of the world soon turning to our area, there is no excuse for standing still.
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