Further Delay to Hillsborough Law Expected
The Hillsborough Law, which the government had planned to enact a year ago, faces additional delays, according to BBC sources.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had committed to passing the legislation by 15 April 2025, coinciding with the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
However, the legislation, which aims to impose a legal duty on public authorities to cooperate fully and truthfully with inquiries, will not be enacted by the conclusion of the current parliamentary session in May.
The BBC has learned that ministers intend to carry the bill over into the next parliamentary session, with campaigners hopeful it will be enacted in the autumn.
Labour MPs who have long advocated for the law now accept the delay until the new parliamentary session but are urging the government to provide a clear timetable.
Ministers remain cautious about committing to specific deadlines due to prior missed targets.
The Hillsborough Law campaign's legal representatives are scheduled to attend parliament next week to attempt to resolve the legislative impasse and rally support.
The proposed law would establish a "duty of candour" requiring public authorities to be transparent and cooperative during inquiries. The law is named after the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, the site of a fatal crush in 1989 that resulted in 97 deaths.
Following the disaster, police leadership was found to have disseminated false narratives blaming Liverpool fans and withheld evidence of their own errors.
Consultations and Intelligence Services Concerns
Sir Keir Starmer had also pledged to collaborate closely with bereaved families, which initially delayed the bill to allow for further consultations.
In January, a significant obstacle arose regarding the extent to which intelligence services would be required to cooperate.
A government-proposed amendment would grant intelligence agency heads discretion to decide whether to cooperate with public inquiries to safeguard national security.
However, some campaigners highlighted concerns based on the conduct of intelligence agencies following the Manchester Arena bombing, where MI5 was accused of misleading the inquiry.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram jointly stated that the amendment created "too broad an opt-out" and risked "undermining the spirit of the legislation."
Families, campaigners, and Merseyside MPs shared this viewpoint.
Despite intense discussions among ministers, officials, and families affected by both Hillsborough and Manchester tragedies, no consensus was reached on the amendment, resulting in the legislation being paused.
Political and Leadership Implications
At the time, some government insiders feared proceeding without family support could provoke a governmental crisis and attract criticism of Sir Keir Starmer's leadership.
There were concerns that opposition from potential leadership contenders could threaten the Prime Minister's position.
Sources indicate that every modification to the amendment requires approval from multiple government departments, agencies, and the families involved.
It is acknowledged that this process will not conclude before the King's Speech in May, which traditionally signals the start of a new parliamentary session.
Any bills not enacted by then will lapse but can be reintroduced.
Ongoing Efforts and Calls for Action
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, who was present at Hillsborough in 1989 and maintains close contact with bereaved families, proposed an alternative amendment aimed at preventing security services from misleading public inquiries. This amendment has not been accepted by the government.
Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, Byrne said ministers had explained their objections to his amendment and expressed willingness to negotiate.
He described meetings since the legislation was paused in January as "sporadic" and stated he could not "countenance" further delays beyond Labour's annual conference in the autumn, which will be held in Liverpool.
"What we now need is the prime minister to enact the legislation. It has to be the Hillsborough law, no compromise. The government need to get their fingers out. Every single second of delay hurts the families. This is their legacy for those that they lost. It's so important."
