Exclusive: ECHO understands major progress has been made between government and campaigners, with hopes law can be presented to families before party conference in September
Campaigners are “cautiously optimistic” that a Hillsborough Law that the families of those who were unlawfully killed in the 1989 stadium disaster “can be proud of” will be agreed in the coming weeks. The ECHO understands there has been a significant breakthrough in talks with government officials in recent weeks.
Those working on the campaign have been holding regular talks in recent weeks with key figures – including ministers and Attorney General Richard Hermer – in a bid to iron out details of the package of new measures that the families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster have campaigned for over many years.
The law is aimed at ensuring that others will not suffer in the same way that those families did after being the victims of a state-related disaster and the years-long cover up which followed.
The proposed law seeks to bring in a legal responsibility for public servants to tell the truth – referred to as a duty of candour. It would also ensure legal funding is provided to people affected by state-related disasters, like Hillsborough. The idea of the legislation is to try and avoid cover ups like the many that have been seen across the country – from Hillsborough to the Infected Blood Scandal to The Post Office.
A Hillsborough Law was promised by Sir Keir Starmer when he spoke as leader of the opposition at the Labour Party Conference in 2022. The measures were included in Labour’s election-winning manifesto and in 2024, the now Prime Minister spoke at the conference in Liverpool to say the law would be in place by the time of the 36th anniversary of the stadium disaster, on April 15 of this year.
But that anniversary passed with no bill laid before parliament and with a growing frustration at what campaigners said have been attempts by officials to water down the most important tenets of the proposed legislation.
In March, there was anger as government produced a replacement bill, which they said failed on all key points. They said it contained no legally-bound duty of candour, only an ‘objective’ for one that could not be enforceable. Major concerns were also raised about the proposed bill’s plans for the scope of legal funding for those affected by state wrongdoing.
But things improved in July as the ECHO revealed that high level talks between campaigners, ministers and officials in Liverpool had resulted in positive progress.
This direction of travel has continued and those associated with the campaign say they are now “cautiously optimistic” that a Hillsborough Law can now be agreed in the coming weeks that will be acceptable to the families and will contain the necessary measures required to stop others suffering in the way they and many others have at the hands of the state.
A significant breakthrough has occurred over the plans for legal aid, the ECHO understands, although talks over the scope of the crucial duty of candour issue remain ongoing. A source close to the talks said that while important progress has been made, more work is needed and there is a fear time is running out.
This is because it is accepted on all sides that an agreement should be reached before Labour return to Liverpool for their conference at the end of September – the place where the Prime Minister has repeatedly promised to deliver the new law.
The hope is that the proposed package of measures can be agreed and presented to the Hillsborough families in Liverpool in the weeks before the conference.
A campaign source told the ECHO: “We are quietly confident that we can get the Hillsborough Law the families deserve and be proud of but we still have a long way to go.
“We have made important progress but the devil is in the detail and there is a concern that time is running out.”
A government source told the ECHO: “Hillsborough was one of the greatest stains in our history, and our upcoming Hillsborough Law will bring in the cultural changes that the families have long campaigned for.
“We are proud that over the last few months we have made huge strides to deliver on crucial promises such as a legal duty of candour for public servants and making sure bereaved families have publicly funded legal representation at inquests, better protecting every person in the country. This would not have been possible without support from campaign groups who have worked tirelessly with us.
“We believe we are now close to finalising Hillsborough Law that families and campaigners will be proud of, and we will introduce it as soon as possible.”
