The Hillsborough Law cleared the House of Commons on Tuesday, delivering a long‑sought duty of candour on public authorities – and handing Sir Keir Starmer a parting legacy in his final days as prime minister.
Sir Keir told MPs the UK “stands on the precipice of change” as they approved the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which compels officials to tell the truth and co‑operate with official investigations. The legislation is named after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which claimed 97 lives after a crush during an FA Cup semi‑final, and follows decades of campaigning by bereaved families.
“MPs pass Hillsborough Law imposing duty of candour on public authorities in Starmer's final days as PM.”
“What they have done will protect individuals and families that they’ll never know, they’ll never meet but who’ll never have to go through what they went through,” Sir Keir said, paying tribute to the Hillsborough campaigners.
The bill had been stalled by wrangling over how the duty of candour applies to the intelligence services. Ministers broke the deadlock with a series of amendments, which MPs approved on Tuesday, paving the way for it to pass the Commons. It will now be sent to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before becoming law.
The Conservatives accused Sir Keir of rushing the legislation through its final stages after the late changes, but the prime minister insisted the moment was historic. “This is not just a bill for the 97, although it is that, it is a bill for every single working person in this country because, let’s face it, there is a class element to this,” he told MPs. “Time and again the cry for justice was ignored by the British state because of who the victims are – because they’re working class, because they’re black, because they’re women and girls.”
He also referenced other scandals where state failures had been alleged, including the Grenfell Tower fire, the Manchester Arena bombings, the infected blood scandal and grooming gangs.
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor expected to succeed Sir Keir as Labour leader, said the bill ensures “justice for ordinary people going forward” and is “some legacy” for the outgoing prime minister. Speaking shortly after the vote, Burnham joined Sir Keir in hailing the campaigners who fought for years for the change.
The Hillsborough disaster saw police leaders spread false narratives blaming Liverpool fans and withhold evidence of their own failings. The new law imposes a legal duty to tell the truth, aiming to prevent future cover‑ups by state bodies.
As the bill heads to the Lords, campaigners are one step closer to the accountability they have demanded for almost four decades.