On Monday I spoke during a debate on safe standing in football stadiums. The debate was called in response to an online petition in favour of a change in the law to allow safe standing areas during football matches in the UK.

I spoke on behalf of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, many members of which are my constituents. The law on all-seater stadiums was introduced following the Hillsborough disaster which claimed the lives of 96 fans in that same year. No fans have lost their lives in this way since.

This debate comes at a difficult time for the Hillsborough families, while ongoing court cases into offences relating to Hillsborough continue. The court decided on Friday that prosecutions against David Duckenfield will now go ahead. As a result, the matter is sub judice and the families cannot have their voices heard in the debate surrounding safe standing, an issue of safety that they understandably feel very strongly about – a point I made during yesterday’s debate.

Discussing this issue is important, but it isn’t right that those with the most direct experience cannot have their voices, experiences and views considered. It’s vital that we don’t rush to make any changes in the law until they are, and I welcomed the Sports Minister’s promise that this would not be the case.