Campaigners welcome Hillsborough Law which can ‘save and change lives’

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

The Hillsborough Law has the potential to save and change lives, campaigners said as they hailed the Government’s commitment to new legislation as part of the King’s Speech.

As Opposition leader, Sir Keir Starmer had re-affirmed in April, on the 35th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, his commitment to bringing in the law.

Campaigners have been calling for new legislation to prevent the experiences of families of the 97 Liverpool fans who were killed in the 1989 disaster happening again, and to help victims of other scandals to get justice.

The new Labour Government has vowed to “take steps to help rebuild trust and foster respect” with the new legislation placing a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities.

The legislation will “address the unacceptable defensive culture prevalent across too much of the public sector”, the Government said, noting the experiences of the Hillsborough families and victims of the infected blood scandal across decades.

Labour said the legislation is “part of our wider efforts to create a politics of public service”.

Alongside the legislation, they also pledged to improve assistance for the bereaved and those core participants at inquests and public inquiries, including providing legal aid for victims of disasters or state-related death.

Debbie Caine, campaign director of Hillsborough Law Now said: “Only those who have endured a long and arduous battle with the state for truth and accountability will realise the significance of this announcement.

“But make no mistake, this announcement has the potential to save and change lives for the many, not the few.”

In its manifesto, Labour had promised to introduce the long-awaited law, saying “too many victims of historical injustices have had insult added to injury by years of legal delays”.

A report published in May by Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) found “institutional defensiveness” remained a problem and recommended the Government consider introducing a statutory duty of candour for all public bodies.

Last year, in a response to a report from former bishop of Liverpool the Right Reverend James Jones, the Conservative government stopped short of introducing legislation.

Instead, it signed up to a Hillsborough Charter, pledging to place the public interest above its own reputation.

Lawyer Pete Weatherby KC, who helped draft the Bill, said: “I hope today offers some comfort to the thousands of people who over decades have been denied justice, truth and accountability by the state that things might soon change.

“It is because of the struggles of so many that we stand on the brink of changing the law and I pay tribute to all the thousands of campaigners who have stood up to be counted.”

Solicitor Elkan Abrahamson, who also helped draft the Bill, said the new law “should stop all those who in public office serve themselves rather than the public” and thanked the Prime Minister “for keeping to the commitment he made to us”.

The announcement has also been welcomed by people bereaved in the Manchester Arena bombing, Birmingham pub bombings and by campaigners from Covid Bereaved Families for Justice UK.