Hillsborough Law work to proceed after King’s Speech as Liverpool MP calls for ‘finish delays’
It comes as the government prepares to prorogue Parliament next week ahead of May’s King Speech – setting out a new legislative agenda for the coming year
The Hillsborough Law will return to the Commons after the King’s Speech in May(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Keir Starmer’s government will continue to thrash out work on the delayed Hillsborough law in the next parliamentary session.
It comes as the government prepares to prorogue Parliament next week ahead of May’s King Speech – setting out a new legislative agenda for the coming year.
But Commons leader Sir Alan Campbell told MPs on Thursday the Hillsborough law legislation would be subject to a carry-over motion on Monday. It means the Bill as it stands , which aims to prevent future state cover-ups, will pass over to the next session – rather than collapsing. Labour MP Ian Byrne, who was at Hillsborough when 97 Liverpool football fans were killed, welcomed the commitment but urged the Government to “end the delays”.
Officially called the Public Office (Accountability) Bill it proposes creating a “duty of candour” legal obligation for public officials to act with honesty – or risk criminal sanctions. But it was pulled from the Commons in January after a major row over an amendment relating to how it applies to the security services, including MI5.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer confronted by Hillsborough survivor MP after Arne Slot hits outREAD MORE: Hillsborough campaigner tells Keir Starmer to honour promise and get law sorted ‘ASAP’
Last month it was reported a breakthrough in negotiations with Hillsborough families had been secured – but any government amendment is yet to be published.
Speaking at business questions in the Commons, the Liverpool West Derby MP, Mr Byrne, said: “While we welcome the Government’s tabling of the carryover motion for the Hillsborough law, and a lot of people will be relieved today, they were extremely worried about what was happening. But this must be matched by urgency.
“Ministers must end the delays and deliver the law in full without carve outs for the intelligence and security services, as promised, to achieve the cultural change the country desperately needs, as we’ve seen this week.
Sir Alan replied: “I know that he has a personal interest, as someone who was at Hillsborough on that terrible day. As he says, we brought forward the carryover motion, and I’m pleased that he welcomes that.”
Last month Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall has called on Mr Starmer to honour his promise and pass a law to prevent future state cover-ups “ASAP”.
Ms Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James was among the 97 people killed in the 1989 tragedy, told the Prime Minister in an interview with The Mirror : “Get it sorted. Do it, ASAP. You promised when you first came into power that you would fulfil a Hillsborough Law in all its entirety. Now do what you promised. You’ve not only promised it to me, you’ve promised it to the people of this country. Do the right thing Mr Starmer please, and do it ASAP.”
