Labour committed to Hillsborough Law - Deputy PM

PM Sir Keir Starmer had said the bill would be on the statute books before the 36th anniversary of the tragedy

The government "remains fully committed" to introducing a Hillsborough Law and is working "at pace" to get it right, the Deputy Prime Minister has said.

Angela Rayner said it would be brought forward as soon the government was confident it would "deliver the justice victims deserve", she said in reply to Labour MP for Knowsley Anneliese Midgley at Prime Minister's Questions.

Rayner said the "state had failed victims... too many times in the past".

Campaigners said earlier this year that they were disappointed that the law had not been made in time for the 36th anniversary of the 15 April, 1989 disaster, in which 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives.

Speaking in the Commons, Midgley said: "Last Saturday marked eight years since Grenfell, eight years fighting for justice. The Hillsborough families, including Margaret Aspinall, from Huyton, have campaigned for 36 years for the Hillsborough law - decades."

She asked will the government, "honour promises made to victims of state cover-ups and will it finally deliver justice for the 97?"

Ms Rayner responded: "The state has failed victims and their families too many times in the past and that is precisely why our focus is on getting the legislation right.

"I can assure her measures will be brought forward as soon as we're confident they will deliver the justice victims deserve and we want to do this at pace."

Campaigners' disappointment

The legislation was not made in time for April's anniversary, despite being trailed at the Labour conference last autumn by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Last week, MPs demanded that the government did not weaken the proposed Hillsborough Law.

A draft bill has been criticised by campaigners, including the Hillsborough Law Now group, for not containing pledges previously made, including a "duty of candour".

It would obligate public officials to co-operate truthfully with inquiries.

In March it was reported that a meeting between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and campaigners was cancelled, with claims officials attempted to water down the bill.