Hillsborough Law: What is it, why was it delayed and what happens next?

After a nearly decade-long fight, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill has been introduced to parliament.

Also known as the Hillsborough Law, the bill is intended to make sure authorities will face criminal sanctions if they attempt to cover up the facts behind disasters such as the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy, the Grenfell Tower fire and infected blood scandal.

The bill being introduced to parliament is the first step towards it becoming law, and it could undergo changes before the final legislation is agreed on.

Here is everything you need to know.

What is the law?

The Hillsborough Law aims to end the culture of cover-ups and hiding the truth after disasters and scandals.

It will introduce the following changes, which the government has described as "seismic".

• A new professional and legal duty of candour - meaning public officials must act with honesty and integrity at all times, or face criminal sanctions;
• The largest expansion of legal aid in a decade for bereaved families - providing non-means-tested help and support for inquests;
• A new offence for misleading the public, with criminal sanctions for the most serious breaches.

The changes will help to ensure tragic injustices of the past and institutional failures are never repeated, the government said.

The Hillsborough Law is also supported by victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, infected blood scandal, and bereaved COVID families, who want to give victims better access to justice when going up against the state.

How did it come about?

A total of 97 Liverpool fans died as a result of the crush at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield on 15 April 1989 as their club played an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

In the days and weeks after, police fed the press false stories suggesting hooliganism and drunkness of Liverpool supporters caused the disaster.

It took a 27-year campaign by victims' families for an inquest jury to rule that the fans were not to blame for the disaster and those who died were unlawfully killed.

In 2017, a private members' bill put forward by Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, was the basis for the original Hillsborough Law. The bill was introduced into parliament that year, but later "fell" when it had not been passed into law by the time of the 2017 general election.

Labour MP Maria Eagle then introduced the Public Advocate (No. 2) Bill in 2022, which included elements of the proposed Hillsborough law. This also failed to pass before the end of the parliamentary session in October 2023.

Why was it delayed?

While in opposition, Sir Keir Starmer first promised the long-awaited legislation would finally be passed, and after winning the general election last year said it would be on the statute books by the time of the next anniversary.

But leading up to 15 April this year, a government spokesperson told Sky News that after consulting with families, "more time is needed" to draft the best version of the legislation.

Concern was around the "duty of candour" element being watered down, with a source saying what was initially proposed had "that many loopholes" that the duty would be rendered "useless and ineffective".

In July 2025, Liverpool MP Ian Byrne tried to re-introduce the 2017 version of the bill to the Commons, but he was voted down. The government said it was determined to draft its own version of the law, rather than adopt the original bill.

What happens now?

As with any piece of legislation, the bill will now be debated and voted on by MPs and Peers in the House of Lords before it becomes law.

The second reading of the bill is due to take place in the Commons on 13 October.

At a meeting with some of the families of those killed at Hillsborough, Sir Keir acknowledged it had been a battle to get the law into parliament.

Margaret Aspinall, whose son James was 18 when he died in the Hillsborough disaster, acknowledged the "long journey to get here" but said Sir Keir's promise was "well worth waiting for".

Speaking alongside the prime minister, she said: "I thought this is a day that was not going to happen.

"This is not just about a legacy for the 97. This is a legacy for the people of this country and I think that is the most important thing."

The Hillsborough Now Campaign group hailed the "landmark" law but said it will only achieve its aims if it is passed in full.

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A spokesperson for the group urged the government to be "brave" and ignore attempts to water down the bill as it progresses through parliament.

Elkan Abrahamson, one of the architects of the original bill, said he will scrutinise the legislation as it is debated in parliament "so we're not quite there yet".

(c) Sky News 2025: Hillsborough Law: What is it, why was it delayed and what happens next?