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Hello,
Today’s edition focusses on the French Senate’s finding that Liverpool fans were falsely blamed for Champions League Final chaos in May. There’s hope on the horizon for Liverpool’s long delayed new Royal hospital and growing concern over the cost of living crisis.
Exonerated
The gap between one football season ending and another starting can often feel long and arduous. But for many Liverpool fans, this summer’s hiatus will have been the longest they have experienced. For others, it will have been drained of all anticipation and excitement.
In many ways Liverpool fans have been required to continue fighting on all fronts, even after last season came to a disappointing end in the Champions League Final. But the result on the night pales in comparison to the weeks of strain fans endured in a bid to clear their name. Both physical and mental scars will still be visibly worn by those who were there. Only now are the truths of what happened on the night being roundly acknowledged - seven weeks after the event.
The findings of a report conducted by members of the French senate, published yesterday, exonerates Liverpool fans who’ve been subject to bottlenecks, brutality and tear gas. The smears that followed have been forensically debunked, not that much scrutiny was needed to poke holes in the French’s authorities’ narrative of the events.
Yesterday’s report was shared in tandem with a press conference, and the main line that all Liverpool fans will have been wanting to hear was that it was “unfair” of the French authorities to have sought to blame supporters. The official French parliamentary report said French authorities had "stereotyped" Liverpool FC fans, who were "misunderstood" and "identified as hooligans - much of this drawing on the “stereotypes of the 1980s".
The report, presented by inquiry co-chairmen François-Noël Buffet and Laurent Lafon, was critical of the French interior minister Gerald Darmanin. As well as outlining failures in terms of organisation, Mr Darmanin came under fire for his immediate response to the chaotic scenes experienced by thousands outside of the stadium - those wearing both Liverpool and Real Madrid colours.
Mr Daramin repeatedly claimed the issues outside of the ground were caused by as many as 40,000 ticketless fans trying to gain entry. While it was accepted there were a number of fake tickets, Mr Darmanin’s claim was proved to be false. However this web of inaccuracies was preceded by UEFA’s statement that a delay to kick off was caused by the late arrival of fans, another statement proven to be false.
The report instead found a "chain of administrative errors" from the authorities involved in the organisation of the match. Mr Lafon said: "Nobody really felt they were responsible. They all thought they had played their own part fine enough. There was no real coordination between the different organisations and nobody had any foresight."
The report also focused on the actions of the Paris police. Liverpool fans said gangs of locals targeted supporters as they left the stadium. Ted Morris, chair of Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association, told the ECHO how he "feared for his life" as people were robbed and assaulted. Mr Buffet said: "most of the delinquency took place around the stadium after the match. This should have been foreseen". He added: "The police were negligent on the petty crime around the stadium and the failed pre-filter check meant criminals were able to enter the stadium." Heavy handed policing also came in for criticism, with the report highlighting that decisions now need to be made to ensure the Rugby World Cup and Olympic games are not marred by similar events.
While the findings will be welcomed here on Merseyside, the whole fiasco was an all too familiar tale of the innocent fighting for the truth in the face of smears. Many now believe a full apology should be given by the French Government. The exoneration may have lifted the weight from many shoulders, but the arduous weeks of campaigning aren't likely to dissipate in the remainder of the offseason.
Hope for new hospital
The brand new Royal Liverpool Hospital has had a bumpy ride towards its opening. Even in its early stages, over a decade ago, there was concern whether the project would receive the necessary funding when control of the Government changed hands to the Tory/Lib Dem coalition, then looking to make huge savings following the financial crash. But after backing of the project was reaffirmed, construction could start with an estimated opening date of 2017.
What wasn’t foreseen was the collapse of its then contractor Carillion. Not only did the company go into administration with the hospital unfinished, but faults in the building’s design were found - meaning they needed to be corrected while the mammoth task of building the new hospital was continued.
Five years past its deadline, the hospital is finally preparing to welcome patients from its ageing associate across the road - the brutalist but arguably crumbling structure which crowns the eastern gateway of the city. It has now been confirmed that the long-awaited move of staff and facilities into the new Royal Liverpool Hospital will begin just after summer.
New images released today show how the state-of-the-art building is finally close to being ready after a gruelling period of delays and problems. The Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that the move from the current Royal site to the new building will begin from September 28.
READ MORE: New Royal Liverpool Hospital move to finally begin as date confirmed
New revelations in Bramley Moore cash row
A few weeks ago we reported on the row between Everton and Liverpool City Council in negotiations over the payment of fees spent on the Bramely Moore stadium project.
The row stems from the previous administration of Liverpool City Council spending £841,000 on fees after it agreed to help fund Everton FC's Bramley Moore stadium on the waterfront. But Everton later sought alternative sources of funding and did not accept the proposed investment.
In May Everton agreed to pay £502,000 of the £841,000 incurred by Liverpool Council. In a joint statement, it was said that an “amicable settlement” had been reached regarding the Bramley Moore project. But following a freedom of information request, it was revealed that Liverpool council’s chief executive Tony Reeves was “ surprised and disappointed ” with Everton during the negotiations.
It has now been revealed that the hostilities between the two parties didn’t stop there. As reported by the ECHO’s Tom Duffy, Everton FC's chief executive, Denise Barrett-Baxendale, accused Liverpool Council of sending two “menacing” letters requesting payment of hundreds of thousands of pounds. It was later found that the letters asking for payment were sent in error after agreement had already been reached, with Mr Reeves apologising on behalf of the council.
READ MORE: Everton FC boss accused Liverpool council of 'menacing' demand for £537K
Perfect storm on the horizon
People in Liverpool are being pushed further into a generational cost of living crisis that is having a particular and profound impact on the city, according to Mayor Joanne Anderson.
The Mayor of Liverpool has raised specific concerns about the impact of rising energy bills, record inflation and other increased costs which are set to hit the city after a decade of austerity, wage stagnation and the 'economic shock' of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Joanne Anderson will outline her deepening fears at a town hall meeting next week, when she will implore government to take immediate and decisive action to try and lessen the impact of the crisis on Liverpool households as they head into what could be a traumatic autumn and winter period.
In her council speech, Mayor Anderson will say: "This council is concerned about the deepening cost of living crisis currently taking place across the UK and its particular effect on the city of Liverpool. The council notes that recent significant increases in the cost of housing, energy and other essentials follows a decade of austerity, wage stagnation and the economic shock of the Covid-19 pandemic. The government has demonstrated a consistent unwillingness to tackle these problems in a way that will protect the standard of living of people in Liverpool and across the country."
In focus
The view
"This chaos shocked people internationally and has damaged the reputation of France"
| Joe Blott, chair of Spirit of Shankly Liverpool supporters group, on the Champions League final fiasco |
Breakthrough on the buses
Strike action by Stagecoach workers has been suspended to allow staff to vote on a new pay deal. The proposed strikes, by members of Unite, were due to take place tomorrow (Friday July 15) and again on Monday July 18. These days of action have been called off to allow a new vote to take place amongst members.
The move comes after extensive negotiations held on Wednesday July 13 resulted in Stagecoach and Unite agreeing on a new pay offer. Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: “Following a significantly improved offer from Stagecoach, Unite has suspended the two forthcoming one day strikes in order to ballot its members on the new offer.”
If workers at Stagecoach reject the new pay offer, then the all-out continuous strike action due to begin from Wednesday July 20 will go ahead as planned. This would coincide with Arriva bus workers from across the north west beginning their own strike action on the same day.
ECHO Chamber
| Many people will be looking for a way to cool off in the coming days, but in years gone by the Kirkby-made ‘Twicer lollies’ will have been a perfect remedy for the heat. |
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