British MP’s are set to expected to vote in favour of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, informally known as the Hillsborough Law in the House of Commons tomorrow (Tuesday), paving the way for it to be passed into law in the autumn. The Law would create a legal duty for those in public officials to tell the truth to inquiries and investigations. The bill had been withdrew from the parliamentary agenda by Downing Street in January, following disagreements over far it would require intelligence services to comply with a “duty of candour.” Previously, the heads of the intelligence services could’ve opted out of revealing information if they thought giving out such information would result in a risk to national security.
97 people were killed during the Hillsborough disaster during the 1989 FA Cup Semi-Final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on the 15th April that year; after a major crush in the Lepping’s Lane end was caused due to an influx of Liverpool fans in the terrace. The behaviour of Liverpool fans was exonerated ten years ago after originally having been held liable for the crush due to police withholding information about the tragedy from an inquest in 1991.
Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer had pledged to implement the law in the Labour Party’s general election manifesto in 2024, and despite the fact he is leaving office next week, was keen to secure an agreement, after promising families of some of the victims he would do so as Prime Minister. The incoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has said that the return of the law to the House of Commons would be
a major moment in the long fight to end the cover-up culture and secure a country based on truth, justice and accountability,
and that
we owe the Hillsborough families and all the campaigners our profound thanks for standing firm for what is right and never giving in.
