Today we focus on the progress of the proposed Hillsborough Law (the Public Office (Accountability) Bill), introduced to address the institutional failure experienced by the victims and families of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. The government has acknowledged that the British state failed victims to an "almost inhuman level," characterized by "institutional lies, cover-ups, smears and betrayal". Key themes addressed by the Bill include achieving truth, expeditious justice, and consequences. The legislation seeks to transform the culture of the state by introducing a legal duty of candour and ensuring "parity of arms"—equal legal representation—for bereaved families during inquests. The debate also highlights the importance of strengthening the Independent Public Advocate's role and implementing a mechanism for national oversight of inquiry recommendations.

Key Takeaways

• The Hillsborough Law (Public Office (Accountability) Bill) aims to provide justice for victims of public tragedies following decades of struggle against official misconduct and concealment.
• The Bill introduces a legal duty of candour that requires public authorities and officials to be transparent and honest, with criminal penalties proposed for wilful deception.
• A crucial element is the "parity of arms," which ensures that people bereaved by a public tragedy receive funding for legal representation, preventing them from facing "armies of state-funded lawyers" unsupported.
• The law seeks to apply the duty of candour not only to the public sector but also to private bodies and contractors delivering public functions.
• Parliamentarians are urging the government to strengthen protections for whistleblowers and to increase the powers of the Independent Public Advocate (IPA).
• There is a recognized need for a national oversight mechanism to ensure that recommendations resulting from inquests and inquiries are actually implemented, preventing lessons learned from being ignored.

Source: Hillsborough Law
Volume 850: debated on Thursday 13 November 2025

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Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0...