The long-awaited Hillsborough Law Bill is finally being presented to Parliament today.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had promised to bring forward this legislation, which includes a statutory duty of candour for public servants and criminal penalties for those who fail to comply. Liverpool MPs Ian Byrne and Kim Johnson had earlier warned that a watered-down version of the bill would be ineffective if these key elements were removed.
What Will the Hillsborough Law Change?
According to the Liverpool Echo, the bill introduces a number of major reforms. Public officials and authorities will be legally required to act with honesty and integrity, with criminal charges possible for those who breach this duty.
Bereaved families will also gain greater access to justice, as the law expands legal aid provisions. They will receive non-means tested support at inquests, with costs instead covered by the public bodies involved.
In addition, public authorities will now have to keep their legal spending proportionate. This measure is designed to prevent the state from deploying large, expensive legal teams to overpower families during proceedings.
The bill also creates a new criminal offence for deliberately misleading the public, with serious penalties attached for those found guilty.
A Step Toward Real Accountability
Ian Byrne, a survivor of the Hillsborough disaster and one of the leading campaigners for the legislation, welcomed the news in a statement on X. He said:
“I’m proud that the Hillsborough Law will be laid before Parliament [today]. A huge step towards justice, truth and genuine change – and a legacy worthy of the 97.”
Byrne and the families of those who died in 1989 fought tirelessly to prevent a weakened bill from being passed earlier this year. Such a move would have been seen as another insult after decades of smears, misinformation, and cover-ups.
Now, with the full version of the Hillsborough Law Bill set to go before Parliament, campaigners hope it will finally bring lasting accountability. For the families of the 97 and their supporters, this legislation represents both justice and a powerful legacy for future generations.
