Vikki Slade MP secures assurance from the incoming Prime Minister for victims of fatal helicopter crash

Yesterday, Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Vikki Slade secured assurances from incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham that the Dorset family seeking a public inquiry into a fatal helicopter crash would be listened to.

Vikki Slade spoke in the Chamber to welcome the Hillsborough law, officially titled the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which will seek to put a new legal duty of candour on public officials to tell the truth to inquiries and investigations. It will also introduce parity of representation for bereaved families at inquests.

While the proposed law received its title in reference to the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, Vikki used her contribution to the debate to urge the government to ensure that victims and families of victims of all similar events might receive recourse to justice. Vikki specifically mentioned the plight of the families of those killed in the Chinook tragedy in the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland, in 1994, including the family of Major Anthony Hornby MBE. Vikki has been supporting Major Hornby's family, who live in Dorset, to get answers from the Ministry of Defence. 

Vikki Slade MP told Ministers during the debate that the families were seeking a public inquiry as to the cause of the crash, following information suggesting that some defence officials were aware that the helicopter was not fit to fly.

After the debate Vikki met with Andy Burnham to discuss the need for the duty of candour within the Bill to be extended to those involved in the Chinook tragedy. 

During his first major speech to Parliament in the late stages of the Bill, Andy Burnham MP, who has been fighting for the Hillsborough families since he was last in government under Tony Blair, commended Vikki Slade’s efforts in campaigning for justice.

Andy Burnham said:

“We need to recognise these campaigns in the House tonight, as we do the Chinook families who were in court today.

“I was only just speaking to the Honourable Member for Mid Dorset and (North) Poole in the lobby and we pay tribute to them this evening.”

Vikki Slade said:

“I am pleased that Andy Burnham was prepared to listen to my appeal and I hope he will follow through on his commitments to the families and the victims that he referenced in his speech. 

 “We do not know much about his wider priorities so I hope MPs will be briefed on his plan to cut the cost of living, accelerate NHS improvements and build stronger, safer communities”