MP urges Prime Minister to ensure his promises on landmark new law are kept amid growing row
A key meeting will be held over concerns around the Hillsborough Law legislation on Wednesday
A key meeting will be held over concerns around the Hillsborough Law legislation on Wednesday (Image: Getty Images)
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Sir Keir Starmer has been told that he has the power to push through a full Hillsborough Law and must do so - as the Prime Minister prepares to meet families and campaigners amid rows and delays to the landmark legislation.
The ECHO reported earlier today that the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which will create the new Hillsborough Law, has been delayed in its passage through Parliament, with a key stage and vote now moved from tomorrow (Wednesday) to next Monday amid a strong backlash from families and campaigners.
The new law, which will impose a criminally sanctioned duty of candour on public officials who do not tell the truth, is named in honour of the 97 Liverpool fans who were unlawfully killed at Hillsborough and their family and friends who faced lies and smears from the state for decades as they fought for truth and justice.
But the law's movement through Parliament has now been delayed after campaigners and families raised huge concerns about the fact that in its current form, the bill would not impose the duty of candour on the security and intelligence services, instead allowing the head of those services to decide when information should be revealed or not.
Those closest to the bill have labelled this element a "carve out" and said the bill in its current form is not something they can accept, urging the Prime Minister to address these concerns.
Earlier today, the government confirmed it is listening to these concerns and as such has now delayed the next stage of the bill's passage through the House of Commons - known as the Report Stage - from tomorrow until next Monday.
This will allow time for campaigners to meet with the Prime Minister tomorrow (Wednesday), including Hillsborough family members Charlotte Hennessy and Margaret Aspinall. They will join families of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing, who have already expressed huge concerns about the way the current legislation would affect the intelligence services.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Hillsborough family members last year
Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Hillsborough family members last year(Image: PA)
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Ahead of that meeting, Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, a Hillsborough survivor and the parliamentary lead for the campaign, urged the Prime Minister to ensure the promises he has made, that the Hillsborough Law will not be watered down, are kept.
Mr Byrne told the ECHO: "The Prime Minister is the Prime Minister, he can get this through. He has made clear commitments to the families, to campaigners and to the country about what a Hillsborough Law will entail and it must be honoured in full.
"It is within his gift to do this, he has all the levers of power at his fingertips, if he wants to do it, he can do it and if he does he will get congratulations from me.
"People have acted with impunity for decades and have been used to being able to do that and we have seen the damage that has done to so many. We know vested interests are very strong, but we have to just make sure that this legislation is in tip top shape."
He added: "I said to the minister, we would much rather you delay this and give the time to make sure it is right, rather than railroad something through which doesn't cut the mustard and doesn't act in the spirit of a Hillsborough Law, which we may have had to vote against the government on, which is the last thing we want to do.
"We want this bill to go through and for everyone to celebrate it, so I am glad that the government has reflected on its position, but the devil will be in the detail."
The government says it is committed to the duty of candour within the new legislation and has always been clear that this will apply to the intelligence services, but that there is a balance to strike in terms of national security.