The UK Parliament is set to approve the long-delayed Public Office (Accountability) Bill, commonly known as the 'Hillsborough Law,' after a period of significant setbacks. The bill, a key pledge in the Labour Party's 2024 general election manifesto, aims to introduce a statutory duty of candour on public officials and commit to providing legal aid for victims of disasters or state-related deaths.
The legislation takes its name from the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, where a crush at an FA Cup semi-final resulted in 97 fatalities. Investigations revealed that police had spread false narratives blaming Liverpool fans and withheld evidence of their own failings.
This proposed law has faced considerable hurdles. A deadline of April 15, 2025, intended to mark the 36th anniversary of the disaster, was missed. A final debate was abandoned in January following backlash from campaigners and some Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) over a government amendment that would have made cooperation with inquiries by intelligence officers subject to the approval of their service head. Bereaved families had argued that intelligence services like MI5 and MI6 should not be exempt, citing past instances of false information, including in relation to the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
However, the government has now tabled new amendments. These amendments, according to ministers, ensure there would be no exemption for intelligence services without compromising national security. These changes will be considered during the bill's report stage, with a third reading vote scheduled for Tuesday.
If approved by the Commons, the bill will proceed to the House of Lords, where it could undergo further modifications. Downing Street has stated that the government's objective is to have the law enacted by April of next year, in time for the subsequent anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
Sir Keir Starmer, in his final days as prime minister, has described the legislation as a "landmark law" and a "tribute to the incredible families and campaigners who have spent decades and decades fighting to get justice for their loved ones." He highlighted that the Hillsborough disaster was not an isolated case of state cover-up, referencing failings in other scandals such as the Grenfell Tower fire, infected blood, and grooming gangs.
Andy Burnham, expected to succeed Starmer, remarked that the debate would be a "deeply moving moment." He added that the Hillsborough families' struggle has "helped reshape the relationship between the public and the state for generations to come," emphasizing the need for a Britain where all communities are treated with equal respect.
Campaigners connected to the Hillsborough disaster welcomed the bill's return to the Commons. They stated that the legislation signifies more than just new laws; it represents a fundamental change in how the bereaved and survivors are treated, fostering a cultural shift that will offer protection to others in perpetuity.