Liverpool’s Labour MP fail to vote against the Conservative ‘concrete cover-up’ to hide list of schools and hospitals in state of disrepair

Paula, Barker, Ian Byrne, Dan Carden, Maria Eagle and Kim Johnson are being accused of aiding and abetting the Conservatives in a ‘concrete cover-up’ after they voted all abstained on a Liberal Democrat amendment which would have forced the Government to publish a register of schools and hospitals in Liverpool that are not fit for purpose.

The Lib Dem amendment to the Levelling Up Bill would have forced the Government to publish a full register of schools and hospitals in Liverpooland across the country that are in a state of serious disrepair; including schools and hospitals affected by aero-concrete (RAAC) and asbestos. 

This list would have to be published within one month of the bill passing and regularly updated on a three month basis with up to date information. 

In August, the Government found themselves engulfed in a RAAC crisis which forced schools to close days before returning from their summer break. 

Despite this, 301 Conservative MPs voted this week (Tuesday 17 October) to cover-up the full list of schools and hospitals that could follow suit and hide important information about the state of buildings from the public. Labour failed to join other opposition MPs voting against the Conservatives.

It comes following Rishi Sunak blocking plans to rebuild hospitals that were falling apart and rejecting pleas by Department of Education officials for an extra £900 million a year for school funding in the 2021 Spending Review during his tenure as Chancellor. 

Cllr Carl Cashman, Leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats, said:

“It’s shameful that Labour MPs failed to vote against this Conservative Government and once again let them cover-up information from their constituents rather than be transparent.

“Their refusal to be honest and their continued efforts to hide this information is shocking; in Liverpool we have a right to know if our schools and hospitals are liable to collapse or filled with toxic asbestos. 

“If our current Labour MPs won’t fight for adequate funding to repair our schools and hospitals, the least they can do is tell constituents which buildings are affected.

“This is just another example of Labour and this Conservative Government taking people in Liverpool for granted and playing them for fools.”