Hillsborough campaigners criticise Starmer as law misses 36th anniversary deadline

Telegraph

15-04-2025

Hillsborough campaigners have criticised Sir Keir Starmer for missing his deadline to pass a law that would force public bodies to co-operate with inquiries by the 36th anniversary of the disaster.
The Prime Minister previously promised to pass a 'Hillsborough Law' by April 15 but this week Downing Street said more time was needed to draft the 'best version'.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Sir Keir said: 'Thirty-six years ago, we saw one of the greatest disasters in our history. A disaster that led to 97 people tragically losing their lives.
'Today, I pay tribute to them. In the years since, their families and loved ones have campaigned tirelessly to get justice. Despite all the challenges they have faced, they have kept fighting.
'I promised to bring a Hillsborough Law before Parliament, with a legal duty of candour for public authorities and public servants, and criminal sanctions for anyone who fails to comply. I will deliver on that promise.
'After decades of injustice, we must get this legislation right. We must make sure it achieves what the people of Liverpool have spent the past 36 years fighting for. Standing firmly at the side of Hillsborough families, this is what my Government will deliver.'
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son, James, died at Hillsborough, said the Prime Minister had promised her in a private phone call the law would be introduced by the anniversary.
She added: 'I'm disappointed it's not come out for the anniversary, but at the same time I wouldn't have accepted it being watered down because to me if it's watered down it's like giving me a jigsaw puzzle and there's a couple of pieces missing. If it's not in all its entirety, I want nothing to do with it.'
Last month, it was reported that a meeting between Sir Keir and campaigners had been cancelled, with claims that officials were attempting to have the contents of the Bill watered down. It is understood concerns related to who the duty of candour would apply to.
Elkan Abrahamson, a solicitor for Broudie Jackson Canter and the director of the Hillsborough Law Now campaign, said the redrafted version was a 'betrayal' of promises made.
He said: 'We remain largely in the dark as to the status of the Bill and the next steps. The recent Cabinet Office redraft of the Bill is a betrayal of the promises made by the Government, so there must be urgent steps to return to the original principles.
'We have made it clear to the Government that we will not accept anything that falls short of a full Hillsborough Law, which includes a duty of candour for all public officials. We stand ready to assist the Government in delivering the promised legislation and urge them to speak to us to better understand what is required.
'The legislation must deliver what was promised in the coming weeks to ensure a lasting legacy for Hillsborough families and survivors and to ensure others are not put through the ordeal of fighting for truth, justice and accountability.'
Campaigners are planning to contact all MPs by the end of the month.
On Monday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Having consulted groups over recent weeks and months, we believe more time is needed to draft the best version of a Hillsborough Law, but we remain fully committed to bringing this legislation at pace, and we'll obviously continue to work with them in the weeks ahead and provide an update when we've got it.'
Ninety-seven football fans died as a result of a crush at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium.
It was not until 2016 that an inquest jury concluded the victims were unlawfully killed amid a number of police errors.