Latest news with #BaronessChakrabarti
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Agreement on Hillsborough Law could come in weeks, peers told
The Government is 'hopeful' it can come to an agreement on a Hillsborough Law with the families impacted by the disaster 'in the coming weeks and months', Parliament has heard. Speaking from the Government frontbench, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede said talks 'have been going positively', as peers raised concerns the duty of candour element of the proposed law is being watered down. Labour peer Baroness Chakrabarti said the families of the 97 football fans who died following the 1989 incident feel 'less positive' about its discussions with the Government. The deadly crush occurred during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the football ground in Sheffield. The proposed law would require public bodies to have a duty of candour, meaning they would need to co-operate with official inquiries and tell the truth in the aftermath of major disasters – or face criminal sanctions. A previous deadline set by Labour, that the Bill would be passed before the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in April, has been missed. The Government had said it needed more time to finalise the Bill. A draft Bill has been criticised by campaigners, including the Hillsborough Law Now group, for not containing pledges previously made – including the duty of candour. Lady Chakrabarti told the upper chamber on Thursday: 'I'm grateful to (the minister), as always, for repeating the Government's commitment to introduce Hillsborough Law, but I'm afraid that the families and their representatives feel a little less positive about the engagement they had so far. 'Some worry that they've been briefed against to the newspapers, and generally speaking, they worry about the dilution that … Lord Storey has warned against.' Lord Ponsonby said he was 'sorry to hear that', adding: 'I am aware of very recent interaction with the families in Liverpool, and what I understand is those talks have been going positively, and it is very much hoped that we able to reach some form of agreement in the coming weeks and months.' He had earlier said: 'Since March, we have listened to stakeholder feedback to ensure that we deliver the best Bill possible. 'This engagement has been constructive and progress has been made. Engagement is ongoing and will continue over the summer.' Liberal Democrat peer Lord Storey said: 'Would he give a clear commitment there will be no watering down of that duty of candour intent when the Bill is published?' Lord Ponsonby replied: 'The Prime Minister has made a personal commitment to the affected families to work with them constructively to come up with an appropriate law. 'Regarding the duty of candour, the Government is clear that what happened following the Hillsborough disaster must never happen again. 'Under the Hillsborough Law, public officials will be bound by duties of candour with criminal and professional consequences. 'We are committed to achieving a true cultural change. The Bill cannot change culture on its own, but it can and should act as a catalyst, and we remain committed to launching a programme to encourage cultural change alongside the Bill.'
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Hundreds of people gather for Palestine Action protest
A Palestine Action protest is under way in central London ahead of an expected government announcement on proscribing the group as a terrorist organisation. Hundreds of people met at Trafalgar Square after police banned them from protesting outside of from the group broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last week and spray painted military planes red to protest against the UK's support of Israel during the war in Gaza. Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said he was "shocked and frustrated" about the protest, but said it could not be stopped unless proscription came into force. Organisers made the last-minute venue change after Scotland Yard enforced an exclusion zone across much of Westminster. Met Commissioner Sir Mark said while the force had no legal power to stop the protest, they would impose the conditions "robustly".Charing Cross, next to Trafalgar Square, was blocked for a time as protesters gathered, some waving Palestinian flags and chanting: "We will not be silenced." Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to announce plans to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group on Monday afternoon. The expected move to proscribe the group has drawn criticism from a number of human rights groups and activists. Labour peer and activist Baroness and Shami Chakrabarti said that she did not advocate criminal activity in protest, she felt proscription was a "step too far." Chancellor Rachel Reeves condemned Palestine Action's behaviour as "totally unacceptable" ahead of the statement in Parliament later. "To cause damage to military assets, but also to cause such damage to privately owned assets, it is unacceptable whatever your views are on what's happening in the Middle East," she said.
