PM repeatedly quizzed about promise to honour families with legislation as Liverpool MP reintroduces bill to House of Commons
Sir Keir Starmer facing Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons
Sir Keir Starmer facing Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons
(Image: PA)
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has come under pressure over his promise to introduce a Hillsborough Law amid concerns that the government is looking to water down the legislation it has pledged to introduce. Sir Keir has repeatedly promised to introduce a Hillsborough Law in full - and told last year's Labour conference he would do this by the 26th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in April this year, but that deadline was missed.
The Hillsborough Law seeks to bring in a legal responsibility for public servants to tell the truth - referred to as a duty of candour. It would also ensure legal funding is provided to people affected by state-related disasters, like Hillsborough.
Concerns have been growing among those campaigning for the bill - including Labour MPs like Ian Byrne, that the government will try to weaken the proposed new law so that it will not include a legal duty of candour for public officials with criminal sanctions.
Today, Mr Byrne - a Hillsborough survivor - is reintroducing the original Hillsborough Law to Parliament through a private member's bill, using the 10-minute rule procedure.
But before Mr Byrne's motion was heard, the Prime Minister was already being grilled over his Hillsborough Law promise - facing two questions on the matter at Prime Minister's Questions.
The first came from Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who said campaigners were frightened the government is "watering down these proposals to such an extent that they will be toothless." He asked: "So after months of delay, can the Prime Minister reassure campaigners that his Hillsborough Law will include a real, legal duty of candour as he promised?"
Responding, Sir Keir said: "Yes it will and I have known some of the Hillsborough families for many years, I met them over a decade ago and I know exactly what they have been through, as well as other groups who have suffered similar injustices with similar follow up, which is an additional injustice.
"That's why we will bring forward a Hillsborough Law, it is a commitment I have made. I have been talking to the families in recent weeks to make sure we get this right. It is important that we do get it right, but it will have a legal duty of candour."
Speaking next was Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson, who said: "The Prime Minister visited my constituency in 2022 and told families 'one of my first acts will be to put the Hillsborough Law on the statute book' and he repeated the same promise at conference last year, that the bill would be published by the anniversary in April, that didn't happen.
"However, the government are now planning to table a watered-down version that doesn't deserve to be named a Hillsborough Law. "After PMQs, my honourable friend the member for Liverpool West Derby will introduce the real Hillsborough Law, so can the Prime Minister finally honour his promise and back the law in full. If not, why not?"
The Prime Minister repeated his pledge to Ms Johnson, stating: "This is a really serious issue, it is important that we get it right. I am fully committed to introducing a Hillsborough Law, including a legal duty of candour for public servants and criminal sanctions for those that refuse to comply.
Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby
Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
"It is important we get it right, I have been personally engaging with some of the families on this. She is right to raise this, we will bring this forwards, I just want to take the time to get it right before we put it before the house."
When re-introducing the Hillsborough Law bill today, Mr Byrne will challenge the Prime Minister to get behind the legislation or risk “yet another betrayal of Hillsborough families and survivors”.
He will state: "As a Liverpool MP, the Parliamentary lead for the Hillsborough Law Now campaign, and a Hillsborough survivor – this is personal to me.
"This legislation would bring a generational culture change in public authorities, ending the culture of state cover-ups, so that the lies and deceit seen at Hillsborough –and a litany of other scandals – would never be allowed to happen again.
"This legislation was written by expert lawyers and has been subjected to scrutiny by senior judges and academics. Crucially, it is supported by almost every bereaved family group and campaign group related to state cover-ups. And it was this legislation that the Prime Minister promised to enact.
"In Liverpool in 2022, he said one of his “first acts would be to put the Hillsborough Law on the statute book.” He said the same again in September 2024, promising to introduce it before the 36th anniversary of the disaster. But a year into a Labour Government he hasn’t done that.
"The Prime Minister missed his own deadline and there are rumours the government will now introduce a toothless replacement bill – not the Hillsborough Law he agreed to. This would be yet another betrayal of Hillsborough families and survivors, and of the victims of other state cover-ups.
The Liverpool West Derby MP will add: "That would be a historic mistake, never to be forgotten or forgiven in my city – or by families up-and-down the country affected by state cover-ups.
"The legislation I am introducing is the Hillsborough Law and it was first presented to Parliament by Andy Burnham in 2017, with current Labour ministers Alison McGovern, Maria Eagle and Jess Phillips as co-sponsors.
"This time it is being co-sponsored by fellow Merseyside MPs and senior MPs from across the House of Commons. The Hillsborough Law is here, it is fully drafted and it is ready to go. Now it is just a question of political will."