The public has heard the Prime Minister’s pledge on the Hillsborough Law before and while Sir Keir Starmer’s reiteration of his commitment to introducing the legislation is welcome, there are questions over the timeline for implementation.
When the current manager of Liverpool Football Club, Arne Slot, expresses his “surprise” as to why the Hillsborough Law has still not been introduced, it really should focus the minds of Ministers.
Writing in the matchday programme for Liverpool’s game against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, Slot rightly highlights that “the passage of time does not make” the stories of victims and their families “any less moving”.
Speaking at PMQs, Sir Keir said Speaking at the start of Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said: “My promise remains, working with families, we will deliver a Hillsborough Law to end the injustice that they have suffered and ensure the state will always act for the people that it serves.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during Prime Minister's Questions. PIC: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wireplaceholder image
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during Prime Minister's Questions. PIC: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire
Understandably there is concern that the law may be watered down.
Earlier this year, the Government pulled an amendment to the law amid concerns that intelligence agencies could use it to avoid being bound by the proposed duty of candour.
Victims at the hands of authority do not deserve to see injustice compounded by well-resourced campaigns of obfuscation and evasiveness. They deserve truth in a timely manner.
After 37 long years, we’re on the right track to delivering justice for the victims of Hillsborough.
Enough praise cannot be reserved for the Hillsborough families. They have fought selflessly so that other families would not have to suffer as they have done. For their sake, Sir Keir must make good on his promise.