The long-awaited Hillsborough Law is expected to clear the House of Commons on Tuesday, after ministers agreed the legislation’s duty of candour will apply to the intelligence services. The concession marks a U-turn after months of delays and backlash from campaigners, who argued that excluding MI5 and MI6 would have fatally undermined the law’s purpose.
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor and a leading voice for Hillsborough justice, said the law “will reshape the relationship between the public and the state”. His comments came as the bill finally reached a crucial Commons hurdle, nearly four decades after the 1989 stadium disaster in which 97 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed.
“Hillsborough Law set to clear Commons Tuesday after ministers agree duty of candour applies to intelligence services.”
The duty of candour – a legal requirement on public bodies and officials to come forward with information honestly and promptly – has been the core demand of the Hillsborough families. The original version of the bill would have exempted the intelligence services, triggering a fierce backlash from victims’ relatives and cross-party MPs. Saturday’s agreement to include them cleared the path for Tuesday’s vote.
Downing Street confirmed the change late on Monday, with a spokesperson saying the government had listened to concerns. The prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has previously described the Hillsborough Law as a vital step to ensure “the state never again hides the truth from bereaved families”.
The bill now faces further scrutiny in the Lords, but Tuesday’s vote is seen as the most significant parliamentary test. For the Hillsborough families, who fought a three-decade battle to overturn the original inquest verdicts and expose police cover-ups, the law represents the ultimate legacy of their campaign.