Mr Burgon promised that a Labour government would hold an Independent Panel Inquiry to finally get to the truth and uncover what really happened to seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola on 8 February 2014: “Zane’s case is one the world can learn a lot from.” We should all be calling it out, anyone who cares about children. He praised Trade Unionists “who have been strident, and rightly so, in their support of the justice campaign for Zane Gbangbola and Zane’s Mother and Father”.
The Fire Brigade Union, whose firefighters took the readings that determined the presence of high levels of Hydrogen Cyanide in Zane’s home on the night that he died, unanimously passed a resolution for an Independent Panel Inquiry for Zane at their annual conference in May and have been ardently supporting the Truth About Zane campaign.
And in an Early Day Motion tabled on the 27 June 2019 by Jess Phillips MP, 43 MPs have also called, uncompromisingly, for an Independent Panel Inquiry for Zane. Among the supporters for the EDM are David Lammy, Caroline Lucas, Christine Jardine, Mary Creagh and Hilary Benn.
Zane died, in Britain, during the first event a UK Prime Minister attributed to climate change. An innocent, kind, caring and loving little boy who had his future torn from his little body, now his spirit cries out for justice. Extinction Rebellion activists were among the many Delegates who were deeply shocked to hear Zane’s story and who pledged to spread the word back in their communities and constituencies.
The fight for justice goes on…
THE TRUTH ABOUT ZANE CAMPAIGN is supported by:
The Public and Commercial Service Union, the TUC, the Fire Brigade Union, Unite, Unison, the National Education Union, Save Our Services in Surrey; the Green Party, the Socialist Party, many high-profile Labour Party figures, including Richard Bergon MP and Shadow Justice Secretary; Sir Keir Starmer MP; Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester. Also, Bishop James Jones; Jonathan Bartley Co-Leader Green Party; Caroline Lucas MP; the Baronesses Natalie Bennett and Floella Benjamin and, to date, 82,896 members of the public.
Richard Burgon, Shadow Justice Secretary, full speech:
I am proud as are trade unions to support the struggles of those fighting for justice. The hero’s and heroin’s at Orgreve, the Blacklisted Workers, Shrewsbury 24, 37 Cammell laird shipyard, Hillsborough and Grenfell families. The Trade Unions have played such a critical role in supporting these important campaigns for justice and I had the privilege to speak at the GMC justice conference in Liverpool om these issues. A city that doesn’t need any lessons on how to right historical wrongs
Trade union comrades, I’m very pleased to say’, have also been strident, and rightly so, in their support of any justice campaign and that’s the campaign for justice of Zane Gbangbola and Zane’s father and Mother are hear tonight with a lovely picture of Zane.
When I first met Zane’s mother and father not only was I obviously emotionally impacted upon by the story they told and blocks to justice and information that they got, I was also incredibly taken back by the ability in which they have organised the pressure that they have brought to bear, quite rightly knocking on doors to get justice and I think their campaign, when it is successful, can actually be a case study for other families in our country and around the world, facing injustice. People shouldn’t have to fight for justice. In the society that we live in, they do.
I do hope that people get a chance to talk to Zane’s mother and father about the campaign and see how your trade union branches can support.
And as for what a Labour Government can do I promise to you again today that A labour government lead by Jeremy Corbyn with me as Secretary of State for Justice will hold an Independent Panel Inquiry to finally get to the truth, the truth that you have waited for for fat too long.
The reality is that there are hero’s and heroin’s all around and I have just mentioned two of them now in our own small way we can all be hero’s.