Hillsborough Law to progress in next parliamentary session

Progress on the long-delayed Hillsborough Law will continue after ministers agreed to carry the bill over to the next parliamentary session.

Labour's Ian Byrne, who was at Hillsborough on the day of the disaster which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans, welcomed the commitment but urged the government to "end the delays".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had promised to deliver the draft law, formally known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, by 15 April last year.

But progress was stalled following concerns over changes, including a recent proposed amendment that could have allowed intelligence agencies to avoid a statutory duty of candour.

In the House of Commons on Thursday, Byrne, the MP for Liverpool West Derby, pressed ministers to "deliver the law in full without carve-outs".

Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell had earlier told MPs that the Bill would be subject to a carry-over motion on Monday.

If agreed to by the Commons, the Bill as it stands will be passed over to the next session.

Labour pledged to introduce the legislation - which requires public officials to tell the truth during inquiries and investigations – in its 2024 manifesto.

The government faced a row after proposing amendments that would see spies brought within the scope of the law, but only with the approval of the head of their services.

But after a backlash from campaigners, survivors and bereaved families, the amendments were pulled at the eleventh hour.

At business questions on Thursday Byrne said: "While we welcome the Government's tabling of the carry-over motion for the Hillsborough law, and a lot of people will be relieved today, they were extremely worried about what was happening.

"But this must be matched by urgency.

"Ministers must end the delays and deliver the law in full without carve outs for the intelligence and security services, as promised, to achieve the cultural change the country desperately needs, as we've seen this week."

Sir Alan replied: "I know that he has a personal interest, as someone who was at Hillsborough on that terrible day.

"As he says, we brought forward the carryover motion, and I'm pleased that he welcomes that."

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