Justice Secretary David Lammy described the Bill as 'landmark legislation' ahead of its second reading in parliament
David Lammy said Hillsborough Law will not be watered down ahead of its first debate
David Lammy said Hillsborough Law will not be watered down ahead of its first debate
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The Hillsborough Law will not be watered down, the Justice Secretary has said ahead of the first debate in parliament. The Public Office (accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, will have its second reading in Parliament tomorrow, November 3, having been officially introduced in the House of Commons in September as it began its journey towards becoming law.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously pledged to bring it before parliament by the 36th anniversary of the tragedy on April 15 this year but Downing Street later said more time was needed to redraft it amid concerns from campaigners that the Bill's contents had been diluted and would not include a legal duty of candour.
The Bill is being introduced to make sure the authorities will face criminal sanctions if they attempt to cover up facts behind disasters such as the Hillsborough tragedy or more recently the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.
In the lead up to Monday's debate, Justice Secretary David Lammy, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said the Bill is "landmark legislation" as well as paying tribute to the decades of tireless campaigning by the bereaved and survivors of Hillsborough and other tragedies.
He said: "Despite facing unthinkable loss, cowardly cover-ups, and denials of justice, the families and victims of Hillsborough, Grenfell, infected blood and other British tragedies did something extraordinary: they kept going.
"This landmark legislation is for them, and for the memory of all the loved ones they lost.
"Second Reading is where we start honouring that courage by beginning this Bill’s journey through Parliament: to finally place a legal duty of candour on all public officials, to give grieving victims the legal help and support they need at inquests; and to make clear that misleading the public carries real consequences."
Keir Starmer and David Lammy at the opening of the Labour conference as they sang You'll Never Walk Alone
Keir Starmer and David Lammy at the opening of the Labour conference as they sang You'll Never Walk Alone
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He pledged to ensure the Bill is passed in its "current, strong form" and not "watered down" during its passage through Parliament.
He said: “We will do everything we can to pass this legislation in its current, strong form.
"We welcome scrutiny that sharpens the Bill – but we will not allow the principles that give the Hillsborough Law its meaning and purpose to be watered down.
"With this monumental piece of legislation, we will help deliver our Plan for Change by making sure that truth and justice will no longer have to be prised from closed doors, and that families seeking answers will never again be left to fight alone."
Speaking ahead of the first reading in September, Charlotte Hennessy, whose dad Jimmy was unlawfully killed at Hillsborough said: "In 2016, just days after the 2nd inquests had concluded, Pete Weatherby put the concept of a Hillsborough Law to me and asked if I would support it. Without question, I agreed.
"At that time, I assumed, given the verdicts of the inquests, that it would be a quick and easy implementation. But I was naïve.
"Over the past nine years, I have been proud to be a part of the Hillsborough Law Now group that has grown stronger and stronger with members from various injustices. From Hillsborough, to our little Zane Gbangbola, to the Primodos victims, Infected blood victims, Shrewsbury 21, Nuclear Test Veterans, Post Office Scandal, Covid Bereaved and too many more to mention but we grew strong throughout grief and determined in our goal.
"Today is monumental. But it's only the beginning. We will continue to oversee the rest of this process and ensure that Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment is not watered down.
"I could not think of a more respectful legacy to our 97 loved ones than a Hillsborough Law and I truly hope that they rest a little easier tonight knowing that yet again, they are protecting others.”