Hillsborough Law Introduced: PM Keir Starmer Delivers on Promise to Victims of Public Injustice.

London:

In a landmark moment for justice and accountability in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer today announced the introduction of the long-awaited Hillsborough Law, a sweeping reform designed to protect ordinary citizens from institutional cover-ups and ensure transparency from public authorities.

The new legislation, officially titled the Public Accountability and Victims’ Rights Act 2025, was unveiled during a speech by the Prime Minister, who emotionally recalled his own involvement with the Hillsborough families during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions. He described the courage of Margaret Aspinall, former chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, as “utterly breathtaking”, and praised the families and survivors who fought tirelessly for justice in the face of decades of “smears and lies”.

“Today, I am proud to be making good on the promise I made to Margaret,” Starmer said. “I know nothing can ever undo the years of injustice those families have endured. But I hope it can add to the already profound legacy they have created in memory of the 97.”

The law takes its name from the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster, in which 97 Liverpool football fans lost their lives due to a fatal crush at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield. In the years that followed, victims’ families were subjected to a systemic campaign of misinformation and blamed for the tragedy by authorities and media alike—a narrative only overturned decades later through relentless campaigning.

The Hillsborough Law is designed to prevent such injustices from recurring. Key provisions of the legislation include:

• A Legal Duty of Candour for public officials, requiring them to be truthful and open during all forms of public inquiry or legal proceedings.
• Enhanced Support for Victims and Families, including public funding for legal representation at inquests and inquiries.
• Criminal Penalties for public officials who knowingly withhold evidence or mislead investigations.
• Independent Oversight Mechanisms to investigate institutional failings swiftly and transparently.

Starmer emphasised that while the law is named in honour of the Hillsborough victims, its scope reaches far beyond that tragedy. He directly linked the legislation to other major scandals in recent British history, including:

• The Post Office Horizon scandal, which saw hundreds of sub-postmasters falsely accused of fraud due to faulty software.
• The Infected Blood scandal, which resulted in thousands being exposed to HIV and hepatitis through contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.
• The Grenfell Tower fire, in which 72 people died in 2017 amid concerns about building safety regulations and accountability.

“This is a law for the 97,” said Starmer, “but it is also a law for the sub-postmasters who suffered because of the Horizon scandal, the victims of infected blood, and those who died in the terrible Grenfell Tower fire.”

Starmer hailed the legislation as part of his government’s mission to “change the balance of power in Britain” and ensure the State can no longer “hide from the people it is supposed to serve”.

The Prime Minister concluded his address by reaffirming that only his government could deliver such a comprehensive reform, underscoring the political will behind the move.

Reaction from campaigners and victim support groups has been overwhelmingly positive. Margaret Aspinall, who lost her son James in the Hillsborough tragedy, responded with a statement saying:

“Today is a day I never thought I’d see. We fought so hard not just for justice, but for change—and now that change is here.”

The Hillsborough Law will now go through its first reading in Parliament, with strong cross-party support expected.

Background:

• The Hillsborough Disaster occurred on 15 April 1989 during an FA Cup semi-final.
• The initial inquest verdicts of accidental death were overturned in 2016, with a new inquest finding the 97 had been unlawfully killed.
• The Hillsborough Law campaign has been backed by legal experts, politicians, and victims’ families for over a decade.

What’s Next: The government is expected to establish an independent Public Accountability Office under the new law, as well as begin retrospective reviews into cases where institutional failings may have been concealed.

With today’s announcement, the UK marks a significant turning point in its approach to public transparency and justice for victims of state wrongdoing.