Is a Labour government shafting the Hillsborough victims yet again with a plan to water down a law against covering up the misdeeds of those in authority?
Campaigners feel forced to demand that the law forcing a legal duty of candour on public authorities and officials will be “without dilution or caveat” – and that is a travesty in itself.
Here’s the BBC:
A law named in honour of victims of the Hillsborough disaster and aimed at preventing cover-ups must be “all or nothing”, campaigners have said, after concerns the bill might be watered down.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously pledged to introduce the so-called Hillsborough Law before this year’s anniversary of the tragedy, which took place on April 15 1989.
It would demand public authorities and officials tell the truth and co-operate with official investigations and inquiries, or face criminal sanctions.
Legislation presented to Parliament must be “without dilution or caveat” the Inquest charity said after it was reported last month a meeting with the Prime Minister was cancelled.
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The Inquest charity provides expertise, support and advice to bereaved families on state related deaths and their subsequent investigations.
Other major campaign groups including Grenfell United and Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) have backed the call.
The law campaigners want would introduce a legal duty of candour on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively co-operate with official investigations and inquiries – with the potential for criminal sanctions for officials or organisations which mislead or obstruct investigations.
In an update last week, Commons leader Lucy Powell said the government will take “whatever time is necessary” to develop a law which “meets the expectations” of the Hillsborough families.
Inquest director Deborah Coles said a delay in a bill being introduced to Parliament by the anniversary would be “disappointing” but that it was important the proposed legislation fully met campaigners’ hopes.
Grenfell United’s Natasha Elcock said “so many institutions and companies” had tried to protect their reputations following the 2017 west London tower block fire which claimed the lives of 72 people.
She added: “Why is it so easy for public and private agencies to escape accountability and scrutiny?”
The answer is obvious: because governments have allowed it and often collaborate in it – as the Thatcher Tory government did over Hillsborough.
It’s clear the government knows it is in trouble – it wheeled out Health Secretary Wes Streeting to butter us up on the morning news round:
Streeting saying the government’s intentions are “sincere” feels like classic political fog, especially in the context of a meeting with Starmer reportedly being cancelled.
If these politicians were really sincere, they would not be dithering just days before the anniversary of Hillsborough.
Campaigners have been very clear: truth, accountability, and criminal consequences if officials obstruct justice. No wiggle room.
The fact that campaigners are having to demand that the Hillsborough Law be introduced “without dilution or caveat” already suggests the alarm bells are ringing.
And when you have cross-campaign solidarity—from Hillsborough to Grenfell to Covid-19 bereaved families all saying the same thing – it’s not just noise. It’s a unified cry for long-overdue accountability.
The term “duty of candour” sounds so straightforward, so basic—just tell the truth and cooperate. Yet somehow it is seen as radical.
That tells you everything about how broken public accountability has been in this country.
And 36 years on, the Hillsborough families are still having to fight.
It’s outrageous and – honestly – shameful.
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Is a Labour government shafting the Hillsborough victims YET AGAIN?
Is a Labour government shafting the Hillsborough victims yet again with a plan to water down a law against covering up the misdeeds of those in authority?
Campaigners feel forced to demand that the law forcing a legal duty of candour on public authorities and officials will be “without dilution or caveat” – and that is a travesty in itself.
Here’s the BBC:
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
The answer is obvious: because governments have allowed it and often collaborate in it – as the Thatcher Tory government did over Hillsborough.
It’s clear the government knows it is in trouble – it wheeled out Health Secretary Wes Streeting to butter us up on the morning news round:
Streeting saying the government’s intentions are “sincere” feels like classic political fog, especially in the context of a meeting with Starmer reportedly being cancelled.
If these politicians were really sincere, they would not be dithering just days before the anniversary of Hillsborough.
Campaigners have been very clear: truth, accountability, and criminal consequences if officials obstruct justice. No wiggle room.
The fact that campaigners are having to demand that the Hillsborough Law be introduced “without dilution or caveat” already suggests the alarm bells are ringing.
And when you have cross-campaign solidarity—from Hillsborough to Grenfell to Covid-19 bereaved families all saying the same thing – it’s not just noise. It’s a unified cry for long-overdue accountability.
The term “duty of candour” sounds so straightforward, so basic—just tell the truth and cooperate. Yet somehow it is seen as radical.
That tells you everything about how broken public accountability has been in this country.
And 36 years on, the Hillsborough families are still having to fight.
It’s outrageous and – honestly – shameful.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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