Bill for Hillsborough Law set to be approved by MPs
BBC News 2026-07-12 16:30:36
Context: The UK Parliament is set to approve the Hillsborough Law, also known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which aims to create a legal duty for public officials to tell the truth to inquiries and investigations. The bill has been long-delayed due to disagreements over its scope, particularly regarding the intelligence services' compliance with a proposed "duty of candour". The legislation is expected to be passed by the House of Commons on Tuesday and become law by autumn.
Key Facts
- The Hillsborough disaster, which occurred on 1989, claimed 97 lives after a crush during the FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday's ground, and was followed by police spreading false narratives blaming Liverpool fans and withholding evidence of their own failings.
- Fresh inquests held in 2016 found that the Liverpool fans had been unlawfully killed, and it was the police who had caused or contributed to their deaths.
- The Hillsborough Law would create a legal duty for public officials to tell the truth to inquiries and investigations, with campaigners saying that a new amendment means there will be no exemption for the intelligence services.
- Sir Keir Starmer, the current Prime Minister, made a personal promise to relatives of some Hillsborough victims that he would implement the law as prime minister, and is understood to have been keen to secure an agreement before leaving office.
- The bill's passage has been supported by various individuals, including Hillsborough survivor Ian Byrne MP, campaigner Jenni Hicks, and Alex Davies-Jones MP, who led the government's work on the legislation before resigning as victims minister in May.