MPs Poised to Approve Long-Delayed Hillsborough Law
Members of Parliament are expected to approve the long-delayed 'Hillsborough Law' later today, aiming to prevent cover-ups related to state failures.
The legislation would establish a duty for public authorities and officials to be truthful and to proactively cooperate with official investigations and inquiries.
The bill has faced delays due to disagreements over how this duty applies to intelligence services. Recently, ministers resolved the deadlock by introducing further amendments.
Approval of the bill by MPs during Sir Keir Starmer's final days as prime minister would allow him to present it as part of his legacy at No 10.
Context and Political Reactions
Andy Burnham, expected to succeed Sir Keir as prime minister, described the debate as a "deeply moving moment." Both leaders are anticipated to speak in the House of Commons later.
The proposed law is named after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which resulted in 97 deaths following a crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium.
Investigations revealed that police leaders disseminated false narratives blaming Liverpool fans and withheld evidence of their own failings.
The legislation also includes provisions for legal aid for victims of disasters or state-related deaths and was a commitment in Labour's 2024 general election manifesto. It is formally titled the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.
Sir Keir had pledged to pass the bill by 15 April 2025, marking the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. However, this deadline was missed, and the government abandoned a final debate in January following backlash from campaigners and some Labour MPs.
This backlash arose after a government amendment proposed that cooperation with inquiries by intelligence officers would require approval from the head of their service.
Bereaved families argued that MI5 and MI6 officers should be fully subject to the proposed law, citing cases where MI5 provided false information, including during the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
The government has now introduced amendments to the bill that campaigners say eliminate exemptions for intelligence services, with ministers asserting these changes will not compromise national security.
These amendments will be reviewed during the bill's report stage before its third reading on Tuesday.
Following approval in the Commons, the bill will move to the House of Lords, where further changes may be proposed, particularly by peers concerned about national security implications.
Downing Street stated on Tuesday that the government aims to have the law enacted by April next year, in time for the next anniversary.
Statements from Key Figures
Prior to the debate, Sir Keir described the "landmark law" as "a tribute to the incredible families and campaigners who have spent decades and decades fighting to get justice for their loved ones."
"They suffered unimaginable grief and never gave up. If it wasn't for their dedication the Hillsborough Law would never have happened," he added.
During the bill debate in November last year, Sir Keir also noted that Hillsborough was not an isolated case of state cover-up, referencing other scandals such as the Grenfell Tower fire, infected blood, and grooming gangs.
Andy Burnham, on course to become prime minister on 20 July, praised the Hillsborough families for their "extraordinary courage," stating they are "helping to reshape the relationship between the public and the state for generations to come."
"The lesson of Hillsborough goes beyond introducing a duty of candour. It asks us what kind of country we want to be. One where power is concentrated in distant institutions, or one where it is shared more fairly with the people and places those institutions are meant to serve. If an entire city could be ignored for two decades while telling the truth about the deaths of its own people, what other communities have gone unheard? Which voices have been overlooked simply because they lacked power?"
Burnham, the Labour MP for Makerfield, expressed his belief in the need to "build a Britain where every community is treated with equal respect and where, in the face of injustice, nobody walks alone."
Campaigners Welcome Bill's Return
Campaigners for the Hillsborough Law, including relatives of those killed in the 1989 disaster, welcomed the bill's return to the Commons.
In a joint statement, Charlotte Hennessy, Sue Roberts, Steve Kelly, and Margaret Aspinall said:
"This is not just about legislation, but about changing the way the bereaved and survivors are treated and a change in culture and it is deeply empowering knowing that this protects others forever."
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