Southport MP Patrick Hurley backs open letter from The Lead and Stand Up For Southport

The MP for Southport has backed our open letter calling for peaceful solidarity with the town after the events of 29 July.

The letter, a joint effort from editors at The Lead and local publisher Stand Up For Southport, aims to show that we are together with Southport and do not advocate for the violence that was carried out in the aftermath.

The three young girls who died on that Monday should be remembered with the love and kindness with which they lived their lives.

And the tributes should not be sullied by those who do not speak for Southport or represent the community trying to heal.

Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport, is one of the signatories of the letter. We encourage anyone who feels as we do to sign the letter below.

Hurley told The Lead: "There’ll be a time for formal, process-driven responses. There’ll be a time for government programmes to roll into action. And there’ll be a time for me as an MP to consider a legislative response to issues around knife crime, violent disorder and incitement.

"But for now, Southport needs space and time to grieve, and to come to terms with our loss. In a context where there are no adequate words to describe the extent of the atrocity last week, our actions have spoken instead.

"The vigils, the community days, the support services, the whole town coming together – it’s shown the best of Southport, and the best of our people. And for that, I thank each and every one of the Southport residents who’s taken part."

The riots that have unfolded across the country in recent days have been nothing short of disgraceful.

Usually when there is a terrible tragedy, such as the events of Monday 29 July in Southport, there is time, space and quietness to allow families and communities to grieve and heal.

Thankfully, we have seen this begin to emerge in Southport, and with the peaceful scenes in towns and cities on Wednesday, 7 August, hope is appearing elsewhere, too.

For many, watching the riots unfold up and down the country has been a time of great distress.

We hope this letter funnels the frustration, distress, and discomfort we know the vast majority of people feel into something meaningful – rather than just another click, like, or love heart on social media.

This letter is a sign that we are all together with Southport at this time and we do not advocate the violence, thuggery and aggression which is being carried out thinly in its name.

The three young girls who died - Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine; deserve to be remembered and honoured with the love, the smiles, and the kindness with which they lived their lives.

The flowers of Hart Street, in the Town Hall Gardens, and outside the three primary schools that the three girls attended must not be discoloured by those who do not speak for or represent the unity that has taken place in Southport as people try to heal.

From blowing bubbles outside the Town Hall, the sea of flowers, teddy bears and tributes left to the numerous solidarity events, Southport has shown the compassion and care which 99.9 per cent of us feel in the wake of the death of three young lives.

We hope for a peaceful rest of the summer. For many, this should be a period of stillness and reflection – what was known as wake weeks, when people took a break from the hum-drum and bustle of daily life. That has been so sorely lacking due to a mindless few spreading hate and division.

Let’s have a moment of silence for Southport, let people grieve and process what’s happened, and allow the authorities to conduct the process of justice. We should not allow other people to try to divert the story away from this.

If you feel comfortable to do so and support our view, please take a moment to sign this letter and show your solidarity.

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Signed by:

Andrew Brown, Editor, Stand Up For Southport

Ed Walker, Editor, The Lead North

Luke Beardsworth, Editor, The Blackpool Lead

Jamie Lopez, Editor, The Lancashire Lead

Patrick Hurley, Labour MP for Southport

Diyora Shadijanova, Senior Editor, The Lead

Dimi Reider, Editor in Chief, The Lead

Kate Rosindale, Co-editor, Blog Preston

Lillian Race, Engagement Editor, The Lead

Zoë Grünewald, Westminster Editor, The Lead

Southport MP Patrick Hurley backs open letter from The Lead and Stand Up For Southport

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