Exclusive: After months of difficult delays, the landmark legislation will return to Parliament this week in a milestone moment on its route to fundamentally changing the way the country operates
The Hillsborough Law is named after the 97 Liverpool fans who were unlawfully killed in the 1989 disaster
The Hillsborough Law is named after the 97 Liverpool fans who were unlawfully killed in the 1989 disaster(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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After months of difficult delays, the landmark Hillsborough Law bill will return to complete its final stages through the House of Commons this week in a milestone moment for the landmark new legislation, the ECHO can reveal.
The new Hillsborough Law seeks to bring in a legally-enforceable duty of candour that will compel public officials, authorities and corporations to act with honest and transparency during inquiries and investigations.
Officially titled the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, the new law will make it a criminal offence to mislead proceedings and will expand legal aid so bereaved families have equal, publicly-funded representation at inquests. The law is known widely as Hillsborough Law in honour of the 97 Liverpool fans unlawfully killed at Hillsborough in 1989 and their families who fought against a state cover-up for decades.
Labour promised to bring in a Hillsborough Law in its election-winning manifesto. But, after the bill was laid before Parliament last September, it has become mired in months of delays and legal wrangling since September, with arguments over how the new legislation will affect the nation's security services.
But now, after enormous hard work by the Hillsborough families, other campaigners and the Hillsborough Law Now team, the bill will finally return to the Commons this week for its Report Stage and Third Reading - the final stages a bill must go through in the House of Commons.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Hillsborough families as the new law was laid before Parliament last September
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Hillsborough families as the new law was laid before Parliament last September (Image: PA)
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A statement from the Hillsborough Law campaign confirmed: "The Government has now conceded that there will be no carve-outs, no exemptions for security services or anyone else, breaking the impasse that has persisted since January.
"This is an important milestone, not just for Hillsborough families, but for every family who has experienced a cover-up and lack of accountability from public authorities. We are a big step closer to ensuring that no family has to again fight for the truth for decades."
One the bill completes its House of Commons stages this week, the journey continues in the House of Lords.
A Hillsborough Law Now spokesperson added: "We will keep working with peers, parliamentarians and families to ensure this legislation reaches the statute book and delivers the change that has been promised for so long.
"All relevant Government Ministers have also now committed to ensuring the remaining path to enactment will be swift and without further bumps in the road. When brought into force, this law will mark the biggest change in public accountability for generations. It is designed to be practical, effective and hard hitting, delivering swifter justice for those affected, more efficient and cheaper processes, and no hiding place for official wrongdoing and failure.
"The campaign thanks the many bereaved families, survivors, parliamentarians and supporters who have stood together throughout the campaign and urged MPs from all parties to back the Bill through its remaining parliamentary stages.
"This law is not just about Hillsborough. It is about changing the culture of public authorities, preventing future cover-ups, and ensuring that honesty, accountability and justice become the standard—not the exception. Together, we have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy so that no family ever again has to spend decades fighting for the truth."
Further details on which day the bill will return to the House of Commons this week will be confirmed soon.