I HAVE to start my column this week with a howl of rage at naked class injustice.

In an utterly “contributory negligence” moment, a judge ruled that South Yorkshire police officers have no case to answer in the Hillsborough cover-up trial because the altered police statements were prepared for the Taylor inquiry, which was not a statutory public inquiry but an “administrative exercise.”

In my many visits to see Brighton play Sheffield Wednesday over the years, I have entered the away fans’ enclosure at the Leppings Lane end of the ground thinking about the unspeakable events of that day and hoping against hope that eventually, somehow, justice would prevail.

After the verdict of unlawful killing and the exoneration of the Liverpool fans, insulted and libelled by the Sun’s disgusting hacks, I really thought it would.

I underestimated the capacity of the Banana Republic of Britain to protect those who protect its ruling class. Beyond belief and beneath contempt.

TRAVESTY

Hillsborough looks different now, but we still recall how
It saw horror hard to comprehend.
I’ve been many times to the scene of those crimes
And I’ve stood in the Leppings Lane End.

And each time, as a man, a fellow football fan
I’ve thought how it could have been me
And for the display in that court yesterday
I have just one word: travesty.

 We all have our dreams and our hopes for our teams
And we sing “’til we die” in our youth.
Those folk sang, then they died. The police and press lied.
Decades later, we found out the truth.

But “unlawful killing” is not worth a shilling
When lawyers get up to their tricks.
No solace, no release. No morals, no peace.
And no justice for the 96.

I hope that Liverpool will respond in the way Liverpool knows best and I send solidarity from Brighton, a very different part of the country but one also allergic to Tories and rightwingers in all their forms.

Now to much happier things. You wait 15 months for a gig and two come along at once. Today, Saturday May 29, I do my first live-on-stage-in-the-flesh-in-front-of-real-actual-people gig for 15  months at the Tinner’s Moon Festival in Ashburton, Devon, with my great friend TV Smith.

Tomorrow I have another one at the Art House in Southampton and that one is being broadcast to the world on Zoom as well.

I’ve had both jabs and now take the view that although I don’t trust this government further than I can throw it, I do trust the scientists.

My Collected Works is out, garnering some wonderful reviews, and I am going out there to promote it as much as I can.

Gigs are flooding in, you can find all the info at facebook.com/attilathestockbroker and if you are interested in hosting one please contact me at attila@attilathestockbroker.com.

And next Saturday, June 5, our annual Glastonwick Festival will take place online for the second year running.

On the bill are Blyth Power, Robb Johnson, Joe Solo, Eastfield, Jess Silk, Janine Booth, Steve White & the Protest Family, Wob, Matt Hill, Laura Taylor and more.

We are raising funds for our new community all-ages local football club, Southwick 1882 and you can join in from 2pm at www.facebook.com/groups/217096231713440

A final word in solidarity with my old comrade Billy Bragg. A few days ago, he made a simple post about getting his second jab and amid a huge number of supportive comments, got a stream of vitriol from anti-vaxxers accusing him of selling out.

Good on you, mate. Keep spreading the word. As I am.

I wouldn’t be even thinking of starting to gig again without that vaccine, created by wonderful research, provided by our fantastic NHS. Thank you one and all. Your efforts mean we can start to get our lives back. Never mind the bollocks. Get the jab.