Latest news with #HillsboroughLawNow
The Independent
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Agreement on Hillsborough Law could come in weeks, peers told
The Government is 'hopeful' it can come to an agreement on a Hillsborough Law with the families impacted by the disaster 'in the coming weeks and months', Parliament has heard. Speaking from the Government frontbench, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede said talks 'have been going positively', as peers raised concerns the duty of candour element of the proposed law is being watered down. Labour peer Baroness Chakrabarti said the families of the 97 football fans who died following the 1989 incident feel 'less positive' about its discussions with the Government. The deadly crush occurred during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the football ground in Sheffield. The proposed law would require public bodies to have a duty of candour, meaning they would need to co-operate with official inquiries and tell the truth in the aftermath of major disasters – or face criminal sanctions. A previous deadline set by Labour, that the Bill would be passed before the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in April, has been missed. The Government had said it needed more time to finalise the Bill. A draft Bill has been criticised by campaigners, including the Hillsborough Law Now group, for not containing pledges previously made – including the duty of candour. Lady Chakrabarti told the upper chamber on Thursday: 'I'm grateful to (the minister), as always, for repeating the Government's commitment to introduce Hillsborough Law, but I'm afraid that the families and their representatives feel a little less positive about the engagement they had so far. 'Some worry that they've been briefed against to the newspapers, and generally speaking, they worry about the dilution that … Lord Storey has warned against.' Lord Ponsonby said he was 'sorry to hear that', adding: 'I am aware of very recent interaction with the families in Liverpool, and what I understand is those talks have been going positively, and it is very much hoped that we able to reach some form of agreement in the coming weeks and months.' He had earlier said: 'Since March, we have listened to stakeholder feedback to ensure that we deliver the best Bill possible. 'This engagement has been constructive and progress has been made. Engagement is ongoing and will continue over the summer.' Liberal Democrat peer Lord Storey said: 'Would he give a clear commitment there will be no watering down of that duty of candour intent when the Bill is published?' Lord Ponsonby replied: 'The Prime Minister has made a personal commitment to the affected families to work with them constructively to come up with an appropriate law. 'Regarding the duty of candour, the Government is clear that what happened following the Hillsborough disaster must never happen again. 'Under the Hillsborough Law, public officials will be bound by duties of candour with criminal and professional consequences. 'We are committed to achieving a true cultural change. The Bill cannot change culture on its own, but it can and should act as a catalyst, and we remain committed to launching a programme to encourage cultural change alongside the Bill.'
ITV News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
More than 50 MPs demand PM keeps promise to deliver Hillsborough Law 'in full and without delay'
More than 50 MPs from eight political parties have signed a parliamentary motion urging the prime minister to deliver on his promise to introduce the so-called Hillsborough Law. The Early Day Motion, tabled by Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne – a Hillsborough survivor and the parliamentary lead for the Hillsborough Law Now campaign – highlights how the prime minister failed to meet his own 15 April 2025 deadline to introduce the law. That date marked the 36th anniversary of the disaster. The motion also raises 'grave concern at reports that the Government intends to bring forward a weakened alternative bill, lacking the core principles and protections of the Hillsborough Law.' Backed by cross-party support, the motion is co-sponsored by Liverpool Labour MPs Kim Johnson and Paula Barker. Other people who signed the parliamentary motion include former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Green Party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts, and Liberal Democrat Tom Morrison. At the beginning of July, Byrne reintroduced the Hillsborough Law to Parliament as a private members' bill. Officially named the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill, the legislation seeks to end the culture of state cover-ups – seen in scandals like Hillsborough and the infected blood inquiry – by creating a legal duty of candour for public officials and authorities, enforceable by criminal sanctions. It also aims to ensure bereaved families receive equal legal representation. First introduced to Parliament in 2017 by Andy Burnham, the bill was originally drafted by lawyers who represented Hillsborough families during the inquests and is endorsed by families and survivors of Hillsborough, as well as campaigners from other state-related scandals. The Early Day Motion 'welcomes [Mr Byrne's] reintroduction of the Hillsborough Law' and 'calls on the Government to honour its word and the memory of the 97 lives lost at Hillsborough by enacting the Hillsborough Law in full, without delay.' Byrne has expressed anger after the Government blocked his private members' bill. He said he was 'bitterly disappointed' and, in response to reports that ministers may introduce a diluted version of the law ahead of Labour conference in Liverpool this September, warned: 'That would not just be a profound betrayal. "Returning to Liverpool without first introducing the real Hillsborough Law – not a hollow substitute – would be a grave moral and political mistake.' He added: 'But there is still time to do the right thing. I urge the Prime Minister: stand with victims of state cover-ups. Honour the 97. "Fulfil your promise. Bring forward the Hillsborough Law before you return to Liverpool in September.' When questioned on the issue at the Prime Minister's Questions by Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson, Keir Starmer said: 'I just want to take the time to get [the Hillsborough Law] right and then put it before the House.'
ITV News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Southport Inquiry: Can public inquiries lead to real change?
Speaking ahead of the Southport Inquiry Figen Murrary, the mum of Martyn Hett, says the Manchester Arena Inquiry gave her the answers she needed, but it took an emotional and physical toll. The government has so far announced three new public inquiries in 2025, bringing the total of ongoing or announced inquiries to 21. But with more public inquiries than ever - are they working as they should? While public inquiries can be tools for accountability, they are not without challenges. Critics often point to the lengthy durations and substantial costs associated with these investigations and even more crucially the fact they often do not lead to change. A recent report by the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee warned inquiries were perceived as 'frequently too long and expensive, leading to a loss of public confidence and protracted trauma'. Figen Murray OBE, the mother of Martyn Hett, one of 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing, knows all too well the emotional and physical toll public inquiries can take on families. The inquiry into the Manchester Arena Attack lasted more than three years. She said: "Going through an inquiry as a family member who has been directly affected either by death or injury, it is one of the most traumatic experiences I have ever gone through. "Once you see something, you can't un-see it. And when you hear things you can't un-hear them. So people need to appreciate that sitting through an inquiry you see things, you hear things, you go through all sorts of emotions and it's brutal." However Figen maintains the inquiry did give her the answers she needed and helped her campaign for Martyn's Law. Figen Murray said: They're crucially important because they make people accountable and they actually make sure all the facts are on the table and people can examine them and actually make sense of what happened and it puts all the pieces together that are missing. "I think inquiries are absolutely crucial to learning from bad catastrophic events and finding out what can be done to avoid that from happening again." While few will disagree with the need for an inquiry into the Southport tragedy, some remain skeptical as to what it'll achieve. "It had been hoped Southport would be the first to adhere to the Hillsborough Law which would force public officials to tell the truth at inquiries from the outset or face criminal sanctions but the bill's yet to be passed." Elkan Abrahamson, Director of Hillsborough Law Now believes the current inquiry process is ineffective. "There are two big reasons why I think they are ineffective," he said. "The first-is the lack of a duty of candour so it is easy to mislead a public inquiry - certainly in the early stages before an inquiry kicks off and the second is a lack of any oversight mechanism to see that any recommendations are, if not fully implemented, then at least properly considered. "Time and again we have a public inquiry where recommendations are made and just ignored and we have to do something about that." But Professor Lucy Easthope, one of the country's leading emergency planners, believes if done well the Southport Inquiry could bring positive change. "One of the things about the inquiry is there wasn't a trial which many people were relieved about in some ways but it did mean there were a lot of questions unanswered and the inquiry can go much more broadly into other questions as well," she said. "There is no doubt that inquiries done well with the right disclosure and with a very focused chair that demands things of the people giving evidence does inevitably and necessarily change practise. "The sad thing for us is to have to see it being in an inquiry. " So it seems this public inquiry will itself come in for intense scrutiny. The big question, will be whether it'll be able to provide clarity and a degree of closure to the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie and all the others affected by the terrible events of last summer.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Government urged not to weaken ‘Hillsborough Law' as MPs demand Bill is passed
MPs have demanded that the Government does not weaken a law designed to prevent cover-ups in the wake of major disasters, as they urged it to be passed as soon as possible. Labour MP Clive Efford (Eltham and Chislehurst) warned Commons Leader Lucy Powell that the Public Authorities Accountability Bill, which will include the 'Hillsborough Law', should not be changed under pressure from Whitehall. Mr Efford asked for it to be passed before the end of July. Meanwhile his party colleague Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby) asked for the Bill to be 'worthy of the name'. The proposed law would require public bodies to have a duty of candour. This means they would need to co-operate with official inquiries and tell the truth in the aftermath of major disasters – or face criminal sanctions. A previous deadline set by Labour, that the Bill would be passed before the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in April, has been missed. The Government had said it needed more time to finalise the Bill. A draft Bill has been criticised by campaigners, including the Hillsborough Law Now group, for not containing pledges previously made – including the duty of candour. Speaking at business questions, Mr Efford said: 'Can (Ms Powell) tell me when we're likely to see the Public Authorities Accountability Bill, this introduces the Hillsborough Law on duty of candour. 'Are we likely to see it before the summer recess? 'And can I have an assurance that this is not being watered down at the request of the mandarins in the Cabinet Office?' Ms Powell said: 'The Government remains focused, very much focused on fulfilling our commitment to the Hillsborough families and indeed many other families affected by injustices and scandals and bringing forward and enacting a Hillsborough Law which includes, of course, a duty of candour. 'I think the most important issue is to ensure that we get this legislation right, and that it does reflect the full range of concerns and experiences and does meet the expectations of the families. 'So we are working on that Bill at pace, but we will take whatever time is necessary to work collaboratively and get the legislation right.' In March it was reported that a meeting between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and campaigners had been cancelled, with claims 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. Ninety-seven football fans died as a result of a crush at the FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough in Sheffield in 1989. Mr Byrne told the Commons: 'The Prime Minister promised my city and all those affected by state cover-ups that the Hillsborough Law would be introduced before April 15 of this year – the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. 'Almost two months have passed since the Prime Minister missed that deadline. 'This is particularly disappointing, since there is a draft Hillsborough Law ready to go, written by legal experts, endorsed by survivors, families, campaigners and proposed in Parliament by Andy Burnham.' The Liverpool West Derby MP added that 'a failure to introduce a Hillsborough Law worthy of the name will be seen as a continuation of the betrayal of families and survivors of Hillsborough and all those affected by state cover-ups'. Ms Powell said the Government was 'working at pace' and was co-operating with families and their representatives. She said: 'At these times, we always remember those affected by the Hillsborough disaster but particularly the plight that they have faced ever since to fight for justice and fight for accountability.' Ms Powell added: 'It's absolutely vital that we get this legislation right, that it is workable and watertight in legal terms, but it does meet the expectations and the needs of the families and all those affected.' Meanwhile shadow commons leader Jesse Norman said Wednesday's spring statement by Rachel Reeves was an 'exercise in distraction and sleight of hand'. He claimed the planned £14 billion of efficiency savings were 'illusionary' and said the measures included by the Chancellor would lead to £140 billion in borrowing. Mr Norman said: 'The truth is plain, there will be a tax cut for the people of Mauritius. 'For the rest of us, the spending review was a gigantic speculative splurge of spending, presented by smoke and mirrors, which will end up – as it always does with Labour – with higher taxes, and British taxpayers will have to bear the impact.' Ms Powell replied: 'As ever, their economic argument is utterly incoherent. 'On the one hand, they're saying we're spending too much, and on the other that we're not spending even more on police and defence. 'They're criticising us on growth, yet they don't want the investment to turbocharge our productivity and therefore our growth. 'We're the party with a plan. 'We've got a plan to renew Britain.'
Telegraph
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Hillsborough campaigners criticise Starmer as law misses 36th anniversary deadline
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.
