𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Keir Starmer has confirmed the introduction of his much-delayed Hillsborough law, in a desperate move to quell growing anger before Labour’s Liverpool conference. The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the law will be introduced to parliament tomorrow, after damning warnings from Labour’s Liverpool MPs that the major delay was unacceptable.

Labour pledged to introduce sweeping changes at the last election to prevent a repeat of Hillsborough-style tragedies. It will introduce a legal duty of candour for public officials, including civil servants and bodies such as the police, to prevent coverups, also seen in recent years with the Post Office Horizon and Infected Blood scandals. Bereaved families will also have publicly funded legal representation at inquests, putting them on an equal footing with the public bodies they may be fighting against.

Sir Keir initially promised that the law would pass by April, to coincide with the anniversary of the football tragedy.

However the funding of the legal representation was hit by Treasury backlash, as Rachel Reeves scrambles to fill her £40 billion blackhole.

Anger has been growing among Sir Keir’s Liverpudlian backbenchers over the missed deadline, with Ian Byrne warning: “Ultimately, the Prime Minister made a commitment, it was in the manifesto and it is right and proper that I fight for this – I was at Hillsborough.

“The Prime Minister has made promises and ultimately, it is him that will be held accountable.”

Both he and former Labour shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said the Bill must be introduced ahead of the party’s conference later this month, or “Liverpool will never forgive him”.

Yesterday Andy Burnham warned that the Prime Minister must not water down the proposed law, saying anything less than a “full Hillsborough law” would be unacceptable.

Mr Burnham, who is increasingly being hyped up as a potential successor to Sir Keir Starmer, told LBC: “Obviously there’s ways of doing it so that it can be implemented in a way that has the impact, and we’re open to those discussions but it can’t be anything less than the full Hillsborough Law, which is parity of legal funding for families, bereaved families at inquest where the state is involved, but also that full duty of candour which applies institutionally and individually with criminal sanctions.

“These are the changes needed to get the culture change to end, frankly, the culture of cover-up that we’ve had in this country for too long.”

Announcing the Bill, Sir Keir said: “I know nothing can ever undo the years of injustice those families have endured. But I hope it can add to the already profound legacy they have created in memory of the 97.

“Hillsborough will always remain in our national consciousness for its tragedy and disgraceful injustice. But today it can also be remembered for the way it changed our country for the better. Because with this law, we are changing the balance of power in Britain and ensuring that the State can never hide from the people it is supposed to serve.

“Make no mistake – this a law for the 97, but it is also a law for the sub-postmasters who suffered because of the Horizon scandal, the victims of infected blood, and those who died in the terrible Grenfell Tower fire. This is change only this Government can deliver.”