Academic refuses honour in protest against ‘those who remained unresponsive’ to efforts for justice after the tragedy

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A Hillsborough campaigner and academic has turned down an OBE in the Queen’s New Year honours list in protest against those who failed to help survivors of the disaster and their bereaved families. The author, who led the Hillsborough Independent Panel's research team, said he could not receive an honour in protest "at those who remained unresponsive" to help families and survivors affected by the disaster. Image copyright Reuters Image caption The behaviour of Liverpool fans was exonerated at the conclusion of the inquests in April

Fresh inquests in April concluded that the 96 football fans who died as a result of a crush at Hillsborough were unlawfully killed,

The jury found that match commander Ch Supt David Duckenfield was "responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence" due to a breach of his duty of care. Image copyright Richard Stonehouse/Getty Images Image caption Hillsborough campaigners Trevor Hicks and Margaret Aspinall and former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish received Freedom of the City of Liverpool medals in September

Prof Scraton has previously received the Freedom of the City of Liverpool, the Political Studies Association's Campaigner of the Year Award and an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from the University of Liverpool "with gratitude and humility". In a statement reported by the BBC, he said: “I researched Hillsborough from 1989, publishing reports, articles and the first edition of Hillsborough: The Truth in 1990. "Until 2009, and despite compelling evidence, successive governments declined to pursue a thorough, independent review of the context, consequences and aftermath of the disaster. “This changed as a direct result of the families’ and survivors’ brave, persistent campaign. It led to the Hillsborough Independent Panel, its groundbreaking findings, new inquests and their crucially significant verdicts.”

He added: “I headed the panel’s research team and was a consultant to the families’ lawyers throughout the new inquests. I could not receive an honour on the recommendation of those who remained unresponsive to the determined efforts of bereaved families and survivors to secure truth and justice.”

Scraton said he appreciated his decision “might come as a disappointment to some Hillsborough families, survivors and whoever nominated me,” the BBC said. But he has refused the Order of the British Empire honour in protest to years of inaction and because of a moral objection to historical 'imperialism'. In my scholarship and teaching I remain a strong critic of the historical, cultural and political contexts of imperialism and their international legacy.”

The ECHO exclusively serialised the new, updated version of Prof Scraton’s expertly-researched account last summer.
The academic Phil Scraton refuses an OBE granted to him by Elizabeth II in her 2017 New Year Honours list for his work on the Hillsborough disaster. Professor Scraton wrote Hillsborough: The Truth, first published in 1990 and seen as the definitive account of the disaster.