New Hillsborough Law will include legal duty of candour, says Prime Minister
Sir Keir Starmer has told the House of Commons he is "fully committed" to bringing in legislation which would force public officials to tell the truth at major inquiries, with "criminal sanctions for those that refuse to comply", after concerns were raised that the government wanted to "water down" the scope of the new Hillsborough Law.
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This comes after Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne made a fresh parliamentary bid to drive through the original Hillsborough Law, amid suggestions the duty of candour element had been removed from a draft of the bill.
In response, the Prime Minister insisted: "We will bring this forward - I just want to take the time to get it right."
Labour’s election manifesto said it would introduce a law named in honour of the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, which would place a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities and provide legal aid for victims of disasters or state-related deaths.
Sir Keir announced at last year’s Labour Party conference that the Hillsborough Law legislation would be introduced by 15 April this year, and said the law would include criminal sanctions.
However, the deadline was missed, and campaigners have shared concern that the government is gearing up to introduce a “watered down” version of the proposed legislation.
The bill is due to receive its second reading on 11 July.
Lottie Winson
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