Latest news with #HillsboroughFamilies
Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Times
Andy Burnham: Officials misleading public over Hillsborough Law
Ministers and civil servants are misleading the public with 'false' and 'unfounded' claims about new legislation to prevent state cover-ups, the mayor of Greater Manchester has said. Reflecting growing frustration over delays to the Hillsborough Law, Andy Burnham said that parts of Whitehall were 'fighting hard to preserve the status quo', which led to scandals and cover-ups such as those relating to the Post Office and infected blood. Sir Keir Starmer had promised that draft legislation introducing a legal 'duty of candour' with criminal sanctions for state employees would be published by April 15, the anniversary of the fatal crowd crush at Hillsborough football stadium in Sheffield in 1989. However, that deadline was missed after a draft bill was rejected in March by the Hillsborough families, who argued that its proposed safeguards against dishonesty by public servants were not strong enough.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
MP to reintroduce original Hillsborough Law
A Liverpool MP is planning to make a fresh bid to drive through the original Hillsborough Law in Parliament on Ian Byrne said campaigners are concerned the government's current plans for the legislation do not include key provisions such as forcing public officials to tell the truth at major inquiries and preventing said the Hillsborough families and survivors and "other victims of state cover-ups" would not support the government's "wholly deficient and ineffective" replacement government said the Hillsborough disaster was "one of the greatest stains on British history" and it remained fully committed to bringing in the legislation. A letter sent to Sir Keir Starmer by West Derby MP Byrne and signed by 138 cross-party MPs and 29 members of the House of Lords has called on the government to deliver the original Hillsborough Law, as the Prime Minister promised at Labour party conferences in Liverpool. Families 'will not support' weakened Hillsborough LawHillsborough law must be all or nothing, families say Byrne said the Hillsborough Law was "a hugely important piece of legislation".He has secured a 10-minute rule which will give him a chance to make his case for the bill in a speech in the House of original Hillsborough Law, first presented to the house by Andy Burnham in 2017, included clauses that would force public officials to tell the truth at major inquiries and prevent would also force public bodies to provide legal funding for those affected by state-related disasters. Byrne told BBC Radio Merseyside that the Hillsborough Law is "something which the country desperately needs", adding that it "would save so many families from so much pain".Speaking about his plans to reintroduce the law on Wednesday, Byrne said: "I'll be laying down the Hillsborough Law in its entirety, unchanged from 2017, which will meet everything that we want it to meet."He said the 10-minute rule would give the Bill its first reading and if it was not opposed then it would go to a second reading. Byrne said the Hillsborough Law had reached a "little bit of an impasse" which was really disappointing so he thought he would give the government an opportunity to support this, as the Prime Minister promised twice in Liverpool in 2022 and 2024. "Any watering down of it makes it ineffective and it won't change the culture," he Elkan Abrahamson, who has represented many of the Hillsborough families and who is also a director of the Hillsborough Law Now campaign, said: "I hope it will bring home to the Prime Minister's office and number 10 the strength of feeling politically."They already know about the strength of feeling among the Hillsborough families and the many other pressure groups that have now joined Hillsborough Law Now."I think that just about every pressure group from a recent tragedy is now a member." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Labour government committed to Hillsborough Law
The government "remains fully committed" to introducing a Hillsborough Law and is working "at pace" to get it right, the Deputy Prime Minister has said. Angela Rayner said it would be brought forward as soon the government was confident it would "deliver the justice victims deserve", she said in reply to Labour MP for Knowsley Anneliese Midgley at Prime Minister's said the "state had failed victims... too many times in the past". Campaigners said earlier this year that they were disappointed that the law had not been made in time for the 36th anniversary of the 15 April, 1989 disaster, in which 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives. Speaking in the Commons, Midgley said: "Last Saturday marked eight years since Grenfell, eight years fighting for justice. The Hillsborough families, including Margaret Aspinall, from Huyton, have campaigned for 36 years for the Hillsborough law - decades."She asked will the government, "honour promises made to victims of state cover-ups and will it finally deliver justice for the 97?"Ms Raynor responded: "The state has failed victims and their families too many times in the past and that is precisely why our focus is on getting the legislation right. "I can assure her measures will be brought forward as soon as we're confident they will deliver the justice victims deserve and we want to do this at pace." Campaigners' disappointment The legislation was not made in time for April's anniversary, despite being trailed at the Labour conference last autumn by Prime Minister Keir week, MPs demanded that the government did not weaken the proposed Hillsborough Law. A draft bill has been criticised by campaigners, including the Hillsborough Law Now group, for not containing pledges previously made, including a "duty of candour".It would obligate public officials to co-operate truthfully with March it was reported that a meeting between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and campaigners was cancelled, with claims officials attempted to water down the bill. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
