The Hillsborough Law, formally the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, is set to clear the House of Commons on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, after ministers agreed to extend its duty of candour to the intelligence services. The legislation aims to prevent cover-ups by requiring officials to be transparent during investigations and inquiries into state failures.
Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham, who will become Labour leader on Friday and prime minister on Monday, said the law will help shift the balance of power between the people and the state. Writing in the Liverpool Echo, Burnham stated: 'We owe this moment to the Hillsborough families. For 37 years, they refused to accept a lie. They stood firm when powerful institutions closed ranks against them.'
Background of the Hillsborough Disaster
The law takes its name from the 1989 disaster at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, where 97 Liverpool fans were killed in a crush during an FA Cup semi-final match. Families of those killed fought a long campaign to uncover the truth amid obstruction by authorities. The legislation was a key promise in Labour’s 2024 manifesto but was delayed by disputes over how it would apply to spies.
Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will personally steer the legislation through its final Commons stages, pushing back his expected final Cabinet meeting to Wednesday to speak at the third reading. Burnham is also expected to deliver his first Commons speech since returning to Parliament in the Makerfield by-election.
Key Amendments and Support
Ministers will amend the Bill to bring spies within the scope of the duty of candour, with a 'secure process' for disclosing information affecting national security. Officials said the changes resulted from 'months of working around the clock with the families and campaigners'. Sir Keir called the law a 'landmark law' and 'a tribute to the incredible families and campaigners who have spent decades fighting for justice'.
Hillsborough Law campaigners, including Charlotte Hennessy, Sue Roberts, Steve Kelly, and Margaret Aspinall, welcomed the Bill's return. They said in a statement: 'We have shown that true power belongs to ordinary people. This is not just about legislation, but about changing the way the bereaved and survivors are treated.'
Burnham's Vision for Power Redistribution
Burnham emphasised the broader implications: 'The lesson of Hillsborough asks us what kind of country we want to be. One where power is concentrated in distant institutions, or one where it is shared more fairly with the people and places those institutions are meant to serve.' He added: 'I believe we must continue to redistribute power, strengthen our towns and cities, and build a Britain where every community is treated with equal respect.'
The legislation will still need to pass through the House of Lords. It marks a significant step in ensuring transparency and accountability, honouring the 97 victims and their families' decades-long fight for justice.
