My motion to Parliament: Inquiry into death of 7-year-old Zane Gbangbola

Zane Gbangbola

This week in Parliament I tabled a motion calling on Rishi Sunak to order an independent panel inquiry with full powers to compel Government bodies to release all information about the death of 7-year-old Zane Gbangbola, similar to the panel held for the Hillsborough disaster.

As the Parliamentary lead for the Hillsborough Law Now Campaign and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Public Accountability, I am pleased that the current focus on the Post Office Horizon scandal has reemphasised the urgent need for a Hillsborough Law. 

There are many more tragedies that would benefit hugely from a legal duty of candour on public servants and parity of arms that would allow victims to fight legal battles on equal terms. A fully implemented Hillsborough Law would deliver this. 

One such case is that of seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola. Zane’s family were refused legal aid for his inquest, whilst legal support for public officials was paid from the public purse and even the coroner received legal aid. 

I fully support calls on Government to urgently establish an independent panel inquiry with full powers to compel disclosure into the death of Zane so that all evidence can be reviewed by experts and the truth about what really happened to this innocent seven-year-old boy can finally be told.

You can find the motion on the Parliamentary website at: Independent Panel Inquiry into the death of Zane Gbangbola - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament