Hillsborough Law will not be 'watered down'

David Lammy joined Hillsborough campaigners, including northern mayors Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham at the Anfield memorial

Justice Secretary David Lammy has repeated assurances that the long-awaited "Hillsborough Law" - which will force officials to tell the truth in investigations into major disasters - will not be "watered down".

His comments come ahead of the first debate on the bill in Parliament later, after its formal introduction in the Commons in September in its process towards becoming law.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously pledged to bring it before Parliament by the 36th anniversary of the tragedy, which was on 15 April.

But Downing Street then said more time was needed for a redraft amid campaigners' concerns it had been diluted and would not include a legal duty of candour.

Ahead of Monday's debate, Lammy, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, pledged to ensure the passing of the bill in its "current, strong form".

Officially known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, it will force public bodies to cooperate with investigations into major disasters or potentially face criminal sanctions, with a new offence for misleading the public.

It will also provide legal funding to those affected by state-related disasters.

The 2016 inquests into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster - which led to the deaths of 97 football fans - exposed there had been no legal obligation for the public authorities involved to cooperate with the process fully or transparently.

A legal "duty of candour" – proposed in the Hillsborough Law - means civil servants could face consequences if they prioritise upholding reputation above telling the truth at inquiries.

Supporters of a duty of candour for public officials include victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people, and the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, which saw hundreds of people wrongfully prosecuted and convicted.

A fire at Grenfell Tower in London killed 72 people, with survivors and families still calling for justice

Lammy paid tribute to survivors and victims' families, saying: "Despite facing unthinkable loss, cowardly cover-ups and denials of justice, the families and victims of Hillsborough, Grenfell, infected blood and other British tragedies did something extraordinary - they kept going.

"This landmark legislation is for them and for the memory of all the loved ones they lost."

He said Monday's debate would be "where we start honouring that courage by beginning this bill's journey through Parliament - to finally place a legal duty of candour on all public officials, to give grieving victims the legal help and support they need at inquests, and to make clear that misleading the public carries real consequences".

Lammy said the government welcomed "scrutiny that sharpens the bill - but we will not allow the principles that give the Hillsborough Law its meaning and purpose to be watered down".

Paula Sussex, the parliamentary and health service ombudsman, said the new duty of candour "can be a defining moment in how our democracy works".

"The provisions in this bill will go a long way to rebuild that trust between government and people.

"Trust is fragile and restoring it is a long-term effort. Rebuilt not by words, but by actions that show fairness, accountability and respect for every citizen."