Prime Minister admits state 'failed' Hillsborough victims as landmark law moves forward - Liverpool Echo

A significant milestone was reached today as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, often referred to as the Hillsborough Law, passed its second reading in Parliament. This marked the first proper debate among MPs on the bill’s content since it was first introduced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last September. The legislation aims to hold public officials and authorities accountable by instituting a professional and legal duty of candour. Under this new duty, officials must act with honesty and integrity, or else face criminal penalties for any attempts to conceal facts surrounding disasters. In his address to the House of Commons, Starmer openly acknowledged that the British state "failed" the victims and families of the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy, in which 97 football fans were unlawfully killed due to a crush at the FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield. He praised the tireless efforts of the families who fought for decades to uncover the truth behind the disaster. According to the Prime Minister, this bill is a tribute to their courage and determination, and it is why it will forever be known as the Hillsborough Law. Starmer emphasized that Hillsborough was not a mere tragedy but an injustice compounded by a long-running state cover-up. He condemned the police lies and smear campaigns that added suffering to the families, describing it as "a stain of modern history" in the UK. Moreover, he linked this scandal to others like the Horizon IT failure, Grenfell Tower fire, infected blood scandal, and abuse by grooming gangs, highlighting a pattern of systemic failures tied to biases against working-class victims, minorities, and women. Liverpool MPs strongly supported the bill. Ian Byrne described the legal battles families face as a "wall of silence" where public bodies defend themselves with vast legal teams while grieving relatives fight alone. Paula Barker praised the city’s spirit of solidarity and resilience, vowing to fight against ongoing misinformation related to the disaster. Maria Eagle was sharply critical of South Yorkshire Police for evading accountability despite the public inquiry’s findings. The bill proposes the largest expansion of legal aid in a decade for bereaved families, offering non-means tested support for inquests with public funding covering costs. It also imposes a duty on public bodies to ensure legal spending is proportionate, preventing the state from hiding behind excessive legal teams. Guidelines will be introduced to ensure openness and honesty during inquests, and a new criminal offence will be established for misleading the public in serious cases. The bill will now proceed to the committee stage for detailed scrutiny. Starmer had originally pledged to pass the legislation by the disaster’s anniversary in April 2024, but negotiations with campaigners delayed progress. Continued dialogue throughout the summer culminated in an agreement on the bill’s provisions. The Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to delivering the Hillsborough Law, honoring the memory of those lost and championing justice for families after decades of injustice and cover-ups.