Andy Burnham ended a three-week period of silence in the House of Commons Tuesday evening, speaking in Parliament for the first time since his return to Westminster. During a debate on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, Burnham, who has been described as a prime minister-in-waiting, expressed gratitude to Keir Starmer for his work on what is known as the Hillsborough Law.

Burnham praised Starmer's commitment to a "country based on justice and fairness." His reappearance in the Commons followed a period where he had not spoken since being sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Makerfield on June 22. During this hiatus, Burnham had been engaged in discussions related to succeeding Starmer as Labour leader and potential prime minister. His quiet approach had led some to suggest he was in "submarine mode."

The Hillsborough Law aims to establish a legally enforceable duty of candour, compelling public officials and authorities to act with transparency during investigations and inquiries. The legislation is named after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, where 97 Liverpool fans died in a stadium crush. Subsequent investigations revealed a lack of truthfulness from key public servants, including the police, regarding the events leading up to the tragedy.

Starmer had previously pledged to introduce the Hillsborough Law before the 36th anniversary of the disaster in 2025, a deadline that was missed. The bill faced further delays due to concerns from security services about its potential impact on intelligence operations. However, the government has now determined that intelligence service employees and former employees can be included under a duty of candour without jeopardizing national security.

Burnham stated that the Hillsborough Law will "put decency back at the heart of the British state" and characterized it as Starmer's legacy as prime minister. He expressed hope that it would "end the cover-up culture that has failed so many ordinary people in this country." He highlighted the prolonged period of injustice faced by the city of Liverpool and the families affected, emphasizing that the bill aims to prevent similar re-traumatization by state behavior.

He added, "We can't take that hurt away tonight, but we can put decency back at the heart of the British state, and that is what this Bill does." He concluded by praising the Prime Minister for ensuring its passage, calling it "truly his legacy."

Burnham, who hails from Merseyside, noted that Hillsborough campaigners had advocated for the law "for others, not for themselves," describing their efforts as "so special." He expressed pride in seeing the "values of the city of my birth at the heart of this country" through this legislation.

Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute to the Hillsborough campaigners, stating at the bill's third reading that credit belongs to them and not to the government or the House. He described the bill as being "for every single working person in this country," suggesting a class element to past failures of justice, where the "cry for justice was ignored by the British state because of who the victims are – because they're working class, because they're black, because they're women and girls."

Starmer concluded, "As we reach third reading, we stand on the precipice of change. This is a moment of real significance for our country."