Hillsborough Law Campaigners Demand All-or-Nothing Legislation

As the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster approaches, campaigners are insisting that the proposed 'Hillsborough Law' must be enacted in full, without any dilution. The law, aimed at preventing cover-ups by public authorities and officials, would create a legal duty of candour requiring transparency during investigations, with possible criminal penalties for non-compliance. Despite Labour's previous commitments, the government has acknowledged that it will not meet its deadline to introduce the legislation by April 15. Families of the 97 victims, along with other advocacy groups, have expressed strong opposition to any weakening of the proposed measures. They call for robust enforcement of the law, including public funding for legal representation for families affected by state failures. The discussions have been complicated by concerns over who the duty of candour would apply to, leading to frustrations among campaigners and bereaved families.