Liverpool will 'change the country permanently' with Hillsborough Law

Liverpool will “change this country permanently” with the full adoption of a Hillsborough Law, according to one of its leading advocates. This summer, during the first King’s Speech of a Labour government for 14 years, it was confirmed the legislation named in honour of the 97 Liverpool fans who died at the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, and their families and friends who have campaigned so tirelessly, would go ahead.

The changes to the law will include a new legally enforceable duty of candour for public servants, forcing them to tell the truth during public inquiries and investigations. It will also ensure that victims of disasters or state-related deaths are entitled to a parity of legal representations during inquests and inquiries as well as a public advocate to represent families.

During the annual Heseltine Institute lecture, held at St George’s Hall by the University of Liverpool, Andy Burnham - who addressed Anfield as culture secretary and went on to press then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown for a new push for justice - said the new legislation would once again show where his home city had led the way. Mr Burnham appeared alongside Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor for the Liverpool City Region, who approached him about addressing the Kop for the 20th anniversary of the disaster in 2009.

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Reflecting on the progress so far, Mr Burnham said: “This city will change this country permanently when that Hillsborough law gets on the statute book. That is a massive change that this city and its people will have brought about.”

In September during Labour’s party conference at ACC Liverpool, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Hillsborough law will be introduced to Parliament before the next anniversary in April. He told delegates recruitment had begun for an independent public advocate who will be deployed to the scene of future public disasters.

Sir Keir said: "For many people in this city, the speech they may remember was the one here, two years ago. Because that was when I promised, on this stage, that if I ever had the privilege to serve our country as Prime Minister, one of my first acts would be to bring in a Hillsborough law – a duty of candour."

The PM can expect close scrutiny of the legislation from campaigners to ensure it delivers on what was promised. Mr Rotheram said: “We will push our government every step of the way that the broad aims of the original bill is the one that comes on the statute book.

“There’s a long way to go.”