Wirral MP urges chancellor to waive tax on Hillsborough Christmas charity single (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral MP urges chancellor to waive tax on Hillsborough charity single

11:15am Wednesday 12th December 2012 in News By Stephanie Cureton

Wirral MP urges chancellor to waive tax on Hillsborough Christmas charity single

A WIRRAL MP is calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to waive tax on the forthcoming Hillsborough charity single.

Alison McGovern, who represents Wirral South, submitted a motion to Parliament to ask that the VAT on the track – ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ – is waived so that all proceeds will go directly to victims’ families.

The single, which is released on Monday, will raise cash to support the Hillsborough families in their continuing fight for justice for the 96 football fans who tragically lost their lives in the 1989 disaster.

Twelve of the dead were from Wirral.

Among the singers playing their part in the song are Spice Girl Melanie C, Robbie Williams and Sir Paul McCartney, with supporters hoping the single will clinch the coveted Christmas Number One spot.

And Ms McGovern is hoping the Chancellor, George Osborne, will grant a waiver on its VAT.

She said: “We want to maximise the funds available to support the Hillsborough families so I have asked the Chancellor to waive the VAT as he did for the Military Wives’ single last year and for the X Factor charity single this year.

“It is very important because while we’re all working hard to make sure we get justice in the legal battle, there needs to be funds there so that the families can continue their fight.”

Ms McGovern’s request coincides with the announcement that the Attorney General’s application for the original Hillsborough inquests to be quashed will be heard next Wednesday.

Families of the victims have campaigned for years to have the 1991 accidental death verdicts overturned.

The move by Attorney General Dominic Grieve comes after a damning report into the disaster 23 years ago laid bare a cover-up which attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.

And Ms McGovern said it was now essential to “move forward for justice.”

She added: “I think the Attorney General has responded as swiftly as he possibly could and it looks like the High Court are going to respond quickly.

“We now need to continue to move forward for justice.”

And Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group said the news had brought “relief” to her and other families.

She told the Globe: “There is definitely a sense of relief as we did want the hearing to be this side of Christmas so things could get moving in the New Year.

“It will be difficult getting in touch with all the families and getting down to London but it will be worth it. We are hoping for new inquests away from Sheffield and hopefully closer to home.”