The Hillsborough Law bill, formally titled the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, will return to the House of Commons this week for its Report Stage and Third Reading, the final stages before moving to the House of Lords. The ECHO can reveal that this milestone follows months of delays and legal wrangling since the bill was first laid before Parliament last September.
What the Hillsborough Law Entails
The proposed legislation introduces a legally enforceable duty of candour, compelling public officials, authorities, and corporations to act with honesty and transparency during inquiries and investigations. It makes it a criminal offence to mislead proceedings and expands legal aid to ensure bereaved families have equal, publicly-funded representation at inquests. The law is named after the 97 Liverpool fans unlawfully killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and their families, who fought against a state cover-up for decades.
Breakthrough After Months of Impasse
Labour promised the Hillsborough Law in its election-winning manifesto, but the bill became mired in disputes over its impact on the nation's security services. A statement from the Hillsborough Law campaign confirmed: "The Government has now conceded that there will be no carve-outs, no exemptions for security services or anyone else, breaking the impasse that has persisted since January."
The campaign added: "This is an important milestone, not just for Hillsborough families, but for every family who has experienced a cover-up and lack of accountability from public authorities. We are a big step closer to ensuring that no family has to again fight for the truth for decades."
Next Steps and Commitment from Ministers
Once the bill completes its Commons stages, it will proceed to the House of Lords. A Hillsborough Law Now spokesperson stated: "We will keep working with peers, parliamentarians and families to ensure this legislation reaches the statute book and delivers the change that has been promised for so long."
All relevant Government Ministers have committed to ensuring the remaining path to enactment will be swift and without further bumps. The campaign noted: "When brought into force, this law will mark the biggest change in public accountability for generations. It is designed to be practical, effective and hard hitting, delivering swifter justice for those affected, more efficient and cheaper processes, and no hiding place for official wrongdoing and failure."
Broader Impact and Call for Support
The campaign thanked bereaved families, survivors, parliamentarians, and supporters, urging MPs from all parties to back the bill through its remaining parliamentary stages. "This law is not just about Hillsborough. It is about changing the culture of public authorities, preventing future cover-ups, and ensuring that honesty, accountability and justice become the standard—not the exception. Together, we have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy so that no family ever again has to spend decades fighting for the truth."
Further details on which day the bill will return to the Commons this week will be confirmed soon.
