MPs call for Hillsborough-style independent inquiry into claims of a Government cover-up over the death of seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola

MPs are calling for a Hillbsorough-style independent panel inquiry into claims of an alleged Government cover-up over the toxic death of a seven-year-old schoolboy during floods ten years ago.

Little Zane Gbangbola died when his home in Surrey was flooded with water allegedly containing hydrogen cyanide from a nearby former landfill site. 

The Mail on Sunday has highlighted the decade-long crusade by Zane’s parents, Kye Gbangbola, 57, and Nicole Lawler, 46, to uncover the truth about the tragedy.

Now, Labour MP Ian Byrne has tabled a motion in Parliament calling on Rishi Sunak to order an inquiry with full powers to compel Government bodies to release all of the information about Zane’s death – similar to the investigation into the Hillsborough football tragedy.

Zane’s father Kye was left paralysed in the same incident and was found unconscious just six feet away from his son’s body. 

Gas detection kit worn by firefighters at the scene sounded the alarm for hydrogen cyanide at the property and neighbours were evacuated. 

Zane’s death was discussed at an urgently-convened Cobra meeting in Whitehall later the same day.

But a coroner’s inquest later concluded that Zane’s death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

The coroner Richard Travers said fumes from a petrol pump hired by Zane’s parents to clear water from their home was to blame.

 But they have long maintained that the pump was never switched on and the accusation was an attempt to ‘discredit’ them.

The family’s home in Chertsey, Surrey – where Mr Gbangbola and Ms Lawler still reside – flooded again last month during Storm Henk.

Last night, Mr Gbangbola said: ‘Zane is just one little boy – just a number to the rest of the world – but to us, he is the world.

‘We may have been fighting for a decade but we will fight for the rest of our lives to uncover the lies that dishonour him.

‘The Early Day Motion is another step forward in order for our beautiful son to rest in eternal peace.’

Mr Byrne said Zane’s sad case demonstrated the need for a ‘Hillsborough Law’ – named after the struggle by families of the 97 victims of the football tragedy Sheffield. 

It would create a legal duty of candour on public authorities to tell the truth and cooperate with official inquiries, and provide bereaved families with public funding to pay for legal representation at inquests – something which, Mr Byrne claims, was denied to Zane’s family.