Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Joan Ruddock (Labour), on Monday, 17 January 2011, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 54 members in total.

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30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW CROSS FIRE

That this House records the tragic events of 18 January 1981 when a fire broke out at a birthday party resulting in the deaths of 14 young black people: Patrick Cummings, Andrew Gooding, Peter Campbell, Gerry Paul Francis, Steve Collins, Patricia Johnson, Rosaline Henry, Lloyd Hall, Humphrey Geoffrey Brown, Owen Thompson, Yvonne Ruddock, Glenton Powell, Paul Ruddock and Anthony Berbeck; regrets that no condolences were sent from Parliament or the Prime Minister; notes that the prevailing racist attitudes of the times resulted in an inadequate police investigation, an inconclusive coroner's hearing and a lack of respect and empathy for the bereaved families and injured survivors; and further regrets that 20 years later the re-investigation by the Metropolitan Police and the reopened inquest did not result in a conclusive verdict, but believes lessons learned contributed to greatly improved community relations in Lewisham and London as a whole and a determination that never again would the black community suffer such discrimination.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

1289 

Session

2010-12

Other sponsors

David Lammy

Jim Dowd

Clive Efford

Heidi Alexander

Chuka Umunna

Subjects

Fire and rescue services Ethnic groups Police

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk