Sir Keir Starmer's ascent to 10 Downing Street brings renewed attention to one of the most complex chapters of his legal career - his involvement in the Hillsborough prosecutions during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Historical Context
The Hillsborough disaster, which claimed 97 Liverpool fans' lives in 1989, represents one of Britain's most profound miscarriages of justice. For decades, families fought to overturn the initial inquest verdicts and establish the truth about what happened at the Sheffield Wednesday stadium.
Starmer's Controversial Decisions
As DPP between 2008 and 2013, Starmer faced criticism for decisions not to prosecute certain individuals connected to the tragedy. Most notably, his office decided against prosecuting former Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield in 2010, a decision that was later reversed when Duckenfield faced trial for manslaughter in 2019.
Bill Jones, father of Hillsborough victim Richard Jones, expressed the families' perspective: "We've never had a proper explanation for why certain decisions were made during Starmer's time. Now he's Prime Minister, these questions become even more significant."
A New Political Reality
Starmer now faces the delicate task of addressing this legacy while leading the country. During his campaign, he acknowledged the families' long struggle for justice and pledged his government would "learn from past failures."
The Legal Landscape
The Crown Prosecution Service under Starmer's leadership ultimately authorized charges against six individuals in connection with the disaster and its aftermath, though convictions proved difficult to secure. Only one successful prosecution emerged - of solicitor Gerald Spencer for perverting the course of justice.
Moving Forward
As Prime Minister, Starmer has the opportunity to implement broader reforms to the justice system that could prevent similar institutional failures. Many will be watching closely to see how his personal experience with this high-profile case influences his approach to governance and criminal justice reform.
The Hillsborough families continue their campaign for what they call "full accountability," ensuring that the new Prime Minister's past decisions will remain under scrutiny even as he shapes Britain's future.
