Lord Barber of Chittlehampton (Lab)

My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend the Minister on his speech this afternoon, and the many Members across the House who made moving and powerful contributions, including the noble Lords, Lord Blunkett, Lord Bichard and Lord Roe, and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Manchester. A long time ago, I was born in the wonderful city of Liverpool. I have identified with the city and its football teams ever since, supporting Liverpool almost obsessively, but always having a sneaking regard for Everton, too. That, by the way, was before Andy Burnham became Prime Minister. I have also found myself involved from time to time with improving education in the city. On 15 April 1989, the day of that terrible and tragic set of events at Hillsborough, I was the best man at a wedding. It was, incidentally, the wedding of my noble friend Lord Pitt-Watson. So, very unusually for me, I did not even think about football until the evening. I can remember the sense of shock and horror when I finally heard the news. I am humbled now, all these years later—far too many years later—to have the opportunity to speak in support of this important legislation and to publicly express my admiration for and sympathy with the Hillsborough families and all they have been through. Today, I have only one point to make. It is to reinforce one the Minister made originally and that others have referred to: while sanctions and enforcement are absolutely essential, if this legislation is successful, as we all hope, those sanctions and enforcement will rarely have to be used, because our collective intention is surely to tip the balance of the culture irreversibly in favour of candour and integrity. The noble Lord, Lord Blunkett, mentioned ethics, and the noble Lord, Lord Bichard, talked about the importance of acting ethically, as people have done and always should have done over the 60 years he has been in public service. I believe that that is what will happen. The Bill will go with the grain of the best elements of public service. It will reinforce and strengthen the culture of integrity, to which many—but sadly not all—public servants have always been committed. It will surely, too, act as a deterrent to any who are not. As a result, I repeat, it will tip the balance in favour of candour and integrity. Paradoxically, therefore, the more successful the legislation is, and the deeper the culture becomes, the less enforcement will be necessary. However, importantly, it will not happen as night follows day; it will have to be worked for day after day, week after week, year after year. Culture change does not happen by passing a piece of legislation. I urge public servants everywhere, especially those in leadership positions across the public service and those who make policy for the public services, to consistently and constantly build and reinforce a deep and abiding culture of candour and integrity: a culture in which people do the right thing, however difficult it might be, because it is the right thing. Even more than this historic legislation, such a culture would be the finest possible tribute to the Hillsborough families and their long, courageous campaign. Once, at a cup final, I read a huge and striking banner among Liverpool fans that was perhaps more profound than most. It read, “What We Achieve in Life Echoes in Eternity”. Eternity is a big word: not even the House of Lords can legislate for that. But, eternity or not, the outcome of the long, courageous campaign of the Hillsborough families will, I believe, echo through the public services for a very long time, and hopefully for ever. I strongly support the Bill.