A bill championed by victims of the Hillsborough disaster and their families is on the verge of parliamentary approval, with MPs expected to sign off on the legislation before the summer break. The Hillsborough Law aims to ensure greater honesty, accountability, respect, and justice for those who have suffered at the hands of the state.
Ian Byrne MP, a Hillsborough survivor who has spearheaded the campaign for the law, expressed relief and delight at the impending approval. "I'm absolutely delighted, and above all relieved, that we have finally secured the Hillsborough Law," Byrne told the BBC. He added that the law represents "a lasting legacy for the 97, for the survivors, the bereaved families, and for every person who has suffered at the hands of the state and been denied truth and justice."
Sources indicated that high-level discussions, including input from potential future Prime Minister Andy Burnham, were instrumental in securing the bill's progression without amendments that had concerned campaigners. Charlotte Hennessy, whose father was among the 97 fans who died in the 1989 tragedy, noted that Sir Keir Starmer had personally promised to implement such a law if he became prime minister.
"The prime minister made us a promise and he has fulfilled it, that is a clear testament to the man he is," Hennessy told the BBC, crediting both Starmer and Burnham for their efforts to advance the bill. Alex Davies-Jones MP, who previously led the government's work on the legislation before resigning as victims minister in May, described the process as an "unnecessary uphill battle." She stated that once enacted, the law "will totally change how victims and the public are treated."
The 1989 FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium resulted in the deaths of 97 fans due to a crush. The ensuing years have been marked by a prolonged campaign by victims, families, and their supporters seeking greater transparency and accountability from public bodies.