Latest news with #PublicAuthorityAccountabilityBill
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bid to reintroduce Hillsborough Law draft blocked
A Liverpool MP has said he is "bitterly disappointed" after his attempt to get the original draft of a Hillsborough Law through parliament failed. Labour's Ian Byrne introduced the original version of the bill, drafted in 2017, to the House of Commons for a second reading, but it was blocked. He has called on the prime minister to "bring forward the real Hillsborough Law" before he returns to Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference in September, after fears the duty of candour element had been removed from a later draft of the bill. The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment. Sir Keir Starmer told the House of Commons earlier this month a Hillsborough Law would be brought forward, but he wanted "to take the time to get it right". A terrace crush during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium fatally injured 97 Liverpool supporters. Byrne, then 16 years old, was at the stadium that day and the MP for Liverpool West Derby has been parliamentary lead for the Hillsborough Law Now campaign as a survivor of the disaster. Byrne said he wanted to see the "real Hillsborough Law" - officially called the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill - brought forward before Starmer heads to his home city for Labour Party Conference. In a statement issued on social media, Byrne called on Starmer "to keep his word and support the bill for the 97, for all victims of institutional failure, for truth and justice". He made the comments after an attempted second reading of the bill was blocked by a government whip on Friday. Byrne tabled the original bill on 2 July, and told Starmer he risked "yet another betrayal of Hillsborough families and survivors" if the government did not support the legislation. In 2016, after a 27-year campaign by victims' families, an inquest jury ruled fans were not to blame for the disaster and that those who died had been unlawfully killed. The original Hillsborough Law, first presented in 2017, included a legal responsibility for public servants to tell the truth after state-related disasters. Legal funding would also be provided for those affected by them. Byrne's Bill was co-sponsored by a cross-party coalition, including fellow Liverpool Labour MPs Kim Johnson and Paula Barker, SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn, Liberal Democrat Tom Morrison, and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Starmer told the House of Commons that he was "fully committed" to bringing in legislation which would force public officials to tell the truth at major inquiries, with "criminal sanctions for those that refuse to comply". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Starmer pledges Hillsborough Law legal duty MP to reintroduce original Hillsborough Law Hillsborough Law draft 'betrays' families - lawyer Families 'will not support' weakened Hillsborough Law Hillsborough Law 'must be right, not rushed'
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bid to reintroduce original draft of Hillsborough Law blocked
A Liverpool MP has said he is "bitterly disappointed" after his attempt to get the original draft of a Hillsborough Law through parliament Ian Byrne introduced the original version of the bill, drafted in 2017, to the House of Commons for a second reading, but it was has called on the prime minister to "bring forward the real Hillsborough Law" before he returns to Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference in September, after fears the duty of candour element had been removed from a later draft of the Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment. Sir Keir Starmer told the House of Commons earlier this month a Hillsborough Law would be brought forward, but he wanted "to take the time to get it right".A terrace crush during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium fatally injured 97 Liverpool then 16 years old, was at the stadium that day and the MP for Liverpool West Derby has been parliamentary lead for the Hillsborough Law Now campaign as a survivor of the said he wanted to see the "real Hillsborough Law" - officially called the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill - brought forward before Starmer heads to his home city for Labour Party Conference. In a statement issued on social media, Byrne called on Starmer "to keep his word and support the bill for the 97, for all victims of institutional failure, for truth and justice".He made the comments after an attempted second reading of the bill was blocked by a government whip on tabled the original bill on 2 July, and told Starmer he risked "yet another betrayal of Hillsborough families and survivors" if the government did not support the 2016, after a 27-year campaign by victims' families, an inquest jury ruled fans were not to blame for the disaster and that those who died had been unlawfully original Hillsborough Law, first presented in 2017, included a legal responsibility for public servants to tell the truth after state-related funding would also be provided for those affected by them. Byrne's Bill was co-sponsored by a cross-party coalition, including fellow Liverpool Labour MPs Kim Johnson and Paula Barker, SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn, Liberal Democrat Tom Morrison, and former Labour leader Jeremy told the House of Commons that he was "fully committed" to bringing in legislation which would force public officials to tell the truth at major inquiries, with "criminal sanctions for those that refuse to comply". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
