Members of Parliament have approved the Hillsborough Law, a major legislative step aimed at preventing state cover-ups and ensuring public accountability. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared that the UK "stands on the precipice of change" as the bill cleared the House of Commons, while his expected successor, Andy Burnham, praised the legislation as a profound legacy for the outgoing prime minister.
The legislation, officially known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, establishes a legal duty of candour on public authorities and officials. This duty requires them to tell the truth and fully co-operate with official investigations and inquiries. Following its approval by MPs on Tuesday, the bill will now proceed to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before it can be enacted into law.
The bill is named after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 people lost their lives during a crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. In the years following the tragedy, police leaders were found to have withheld evidence of their own failings and spread false narratives that blamed Liverpool fans for the disaster.
Speaking in the Commons, Sir Keir praised the families of the victims, stating they "fought so that no family like them should ever have to endure and suffer what they went through." He told MPs that "what they have done will protect individuals and families that they'll never know, they'll never meet but who'll never have to go through what they went through."
Sir Keir emphasized the broader significance of the bill, noting that it addresses systemic inequalities. "This is not just a bill for the 97, although it is that, it is a bill for every single working person in this country because, let's face it, there is a class element to this," he said. "Time and again the cry for justice was ignored by the British state because of who the victims are – because they're working class, because they're black, because they're women and girls."
He also highlighted the efforts of campaigners involved in other major scandals, including the Grenfell Tower fire, the Manchester Arena bombings, the infected blood scandal, and grooming gangs. Shortly before the bill passed its third reading, Sir Keir described the vote as "a moment of real significance for our country." At a subsequent reception with bereaved families, he told campaigners their work had had a "profound impact on me," adding, "I can tell you that whatever happens next in my life, I'm never giving up on this."
Andy Burnham, who is on course to succeed Sir Keir as prime minister on July 20, described the legislation as "momentous" and said it would "change the way this country thinks and works about justice." Burnham remarked, "It truly is a rewiring of the state and a passing of power from the authorities to the hands of ordinary people. And it is happening because of the prime minister's commitment to a country based on justice and fairness, and we thank him for that." He added that the bill ensures "justice for ordinary people going forward, and that is some legacy indeed."
The path to passing the bill was marked by delays. Sir Keir had originally promised to pass the legislation by April 15, 2025, to mark the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. That deadline was missed, and the government had to abandon a final debate in January following a backlash from campaigners and some Labour MPs over how the duty of candour would apply to intelligence services.
The controversy arose from a previous government amendment that would have made co-operation by intelligence officers subject to the approval of their service heads. Bereaved families argued that MI5 and MI6 officers should be fully subject to the law, pointing to instances where false information had been provided, including during the inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
To resolve the deadlock, the government brought the bill back to the Commons on Tuesday with fresh amendments. Justice Minister Catherine Atkinson explained that the new changes ensure the duty of candour "applies to all individual intelligence officers while establishing secure procedures for the disclosure of sensitive information."
However, the opposition criticized the government's handling of the legislation. Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy described the late introduction of the amendments as a "shambles," accusing ministers of making "contradictory promises" to campaigners and intelligence agencies while pretending there was no issue. Timothy claimed that Sir Keir was "desperate for a legacy and to claim the credit" before Burnham takes office, adding that "the government has watered down the protections specifically proposed back in January for MI5, MI6 and GCHQ."
Conservative shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan also criticized the government's handling of the bill over the preceding 24 hours. In response, Sir Keir defended the timeline, stating that the families had already waited "years too long" for these changes. "I made a promise to these families, looked them in the eye, and said I would bring this forward as soon as I could. And I've kept that promise," he said. Downing Street has indicated that the government aims to have the law on the statute book by April next year.
