18-06-2025
Campaigners raise concerns over delays to the Hillsborough Law
ITV Granada's political correspondent Lise McNally looks into concerns surrounding the Hillsborough Law.
Campaigners fear the proposed Hillsborough Law aimed at combatting establishment cover-ups is in danger of being watered Government promised to pass the law before the latest anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster in April but there is still no sign of it coming before Parliament. Those who support the Bill say it is about much more than the legacy of Hillsborough - they say it's to protect all victims of avoidable harm, like the Infected Blood and Post Office scandals, Grenfell and grooming gangs.
Campaigners say to be a true legacy for the '97, the Hillsborough law must contain three basic principles, to protect the public if they're caught up in any disasters where the state could try to cover up its mistakes.
Duty of Candour - This would compel public bodies and their employees to tell the truth in any inquiry and actively provide evidence and assistance.
Criminal Sanctions - Those found to have lied about wrongdoing must face criminal sanctions.
Parity of Funding - Bereaved families should be given parity of funding, so they can afford the same quality of lawyers as the public authorities they need to challenge.
It is believed that how these could work in practice have caused disagreements and delays in Whitehall.
The MP for Liverpool West Derby Ian Byrne fears the Hillsborough Law will be watered down.
The MP for Liverpool West Derby Ian Byrne was at Hillsborough on the day of the disaster. He is very worried that when the law finally does appear - it won't go far enough.
"It's going to be a piece of legislation which changes the culture of cover ups and changes the very fabric within this country.
"We cannot allow a continuation of the betrayal of the Hillsborough families and survivors in my city, if this isn't delivered."
Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall told the Prime Minister to "do the right thing."
Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall lost her son James in the disaster, she says any watering down of the law would be a disgrace. "We had to go campaigning to raise funds as well, trying to get over your loss.
"You'll never get over that. We can't bring them back.
"But to deal with the media, to campaign for funding, to beg for the release of all documentation, and not get it. We had all that to face.
"Do I want other people, the ordinary people to face that ever again? No. Things have got to change.
"So if we can do anything to change that system, my jobs is done. That is my job completely finished.
"I thought it was finished at the second inquest, if we got accountability, never realised, my job is still not done.
"And I've told Mr Starmer, it won't be done and I will never rest in peace until we have Hillsborough in all its entirety, for the good of this nation."
Today the Deputy Prime Minister claimed the government 'remains fully committed' to introducing a Hillsborough Law with work 'at pace' to get it right.
During Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon, Deputy PM Angela Rayner, said legislation would be brought forward 'as soon as we're confident they will deliver the justice victims deserve.'
She was questioned on the delay by Anneliese Midgley, Labour MP for Knowsley.
She said: ''Last Saturday marked eight years since Grenfell, eight years fighting for justice. The Hillsborough families, including Margaret Aspinall, from Huyton, have campaigned for 36 years for the Hillsborough law, decades.
'Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell me today will this Labour government bring forward the Hillsborough law without delay?
Will it honour promises made to victims of state cover-ups and will it finally deliver justice for the 97?'
Ms Rayner said: 'I thank my honourable friend for her question and the work with campaigners like Margaret in their fight for justice. We remain fully committed to bringing a Hillsborough Law.
'The state has failed victims and their families too many times in the past and that is precisely why our focus is on getting the legislation right.
"I can assure her measures will be brought forward as soon as we're confident they will deliver the justice victims deserve and we want to do this at pace.'
Until the legislation is laid down before Parliament, the legacy of the Hillsborough disaster remains up in the air.
