A bill to establish a "Hillsborough Law," mandating a duty of candor for public officials in inquiries, is unlikely to be debated in Parliament until after the summer recess. While Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy had suggested the bill might return to the House of Commons "in the coming days," sources indicate it will not be presented before Parliament rises on July 16.
The legislation aims to ensure public officials are legally obligated to tell the truth during official investigations. This initiative follows the Hillsborough disaster in April 1989, where the deaths of 97 people at an FA Cup semi-final match were initially attributed to false narratives blaming Liverpool fans. Subsequent inquests in 2016 concluded that fans were unlawfully killed and that police actions contributed to their deaths.
Downing Street has been considering revisions to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, the vehicle for the Hillsborough Law, after campaigners expressed concerns regarding the extent to which intelligence services could be compelled to adhere to a "duty of candor." Despite reports of "significant progress" on these changes, parliamentary sources confirmed no plans for the bill's return before the summer recess.