The Hillsborough Law, officially titled the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, is set to clear the House of Commons this week, prompting jubilation from campaigner Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. Aspinall told the Daily Mirror she was “absolutely delighted, over the moon, absolutely made up” about the legislation, which would create a legally enforceable duty of candour compelling public officials and authorities to act transparently during investigations and inquiries.
Legacy for Starmer
Aspinall, who chaired the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said she told Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that the law would be a “lovely legacy” for him in his final days in office. “I always believed he wanted to give us the Hillsborough Law. It was others stopping him. Now it’s done,” she said. The law is expected to be brought back to the Commons on Tuesday, during what is anticipated to be Starmer’s final week as Prime Minister.
Impact of the Disaster
The Hillsborough disaster occurred on April 15, 1989, when a crush at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest killed 97 Liverpool fans. In the aftermath, key public servants, including the police, were found to have lied about decisions leading up to the fatal crush. Aspinall emphasized the importance of truth: “People have to tell the truth, whoever they are. The lies have cost millions. The cover-ups have cost millions. The truth costs nothing.”
Security Services Concerns Addressed
Both Starmer and his likely successor, Andy Burnham, have long supported the law change, but it faced repeated delays due to concerns from the security services about its impact on spies. The Government now believes it has reached a point where individual employees and ex-employees of the intelligence services will be covered by the duty of candour without compromising national security. This will be set out in amendments to the Bill, due to be debated this week.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Hillsborough disaster will remain in our national consciousness for its tragedy and disgraceful injustice. Our legislation will right these wrongs, changing the balance of power so the state must always act for the people it’s supposed to serve. We have taken the time to get this right, working with families and campaigners to bring in a Bill that’s testament to their decades of campaigning, whilst never compromising on national security.”
No Carve-Out for Security Services
Victims’ minister Catherine Atkinson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “there is no carve-out” for the security services. “What has been absolutely clear is that there will be a duty of candour, but it’s the way that it is carried out. So, in consultation with the security services, we’ve ensured that there are safeguards so that information that’s provided is done so securely and appropriately,” she said. The latest amendments create a process where intelligence employees send information under the duty of candour to the head of their organisation, who would then be responsible for passing it on to public investigators.
Aspinall concluded: “Our families have worked hard for this, but it’s not for us, it’s for the country. We’ve done it for the people of this country. I’m so proud.”
