Hillsborough Law: What is it, why has it faced delays and a U-turn?

The long-awaited Hillsborough Law has been hit by delays, backlash and a U-turn but is expected to clear an important hurdle in the Commons on Tuesday.

The Hillsborough Law, officially the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, is intended to ensure authorities face criminal sanctions if they cover up facts behind disasters such as Hillsborough, the Grenfell Tower fire and the infected blood scandal.

The bill was introduced to parliament in September but has been plagued by setbacks.

However, after campaigners pushed for amendments, it's expected to be passed by MPs on Tuesday. It's a vital step in its journey to becoming law, which should happen later this year.

Here is everything you need to know.

What is the law?

The Hillsborough Law aims to end the culture of cover-ups following disasters and scandals.

Its name is a reference to the disaster at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield on 15 April 1989, when 97 Liverpool fans died as a result of a crush in the stands during an FA Cup semi-final.

In the days and weeks after, police fed the press false stories suggesting hooliganism and drunkenness of Liverpool supporters caused the disaster.

The bill will introduce the following changes, which the government has described as "seismic":

• A new professional and legal duty of candour - meaning public officials must act with honesty and integrity at all times, or face criminal sanctions;
• The largest expansion of legal aid in a decade for bereaved families - providing non-means tested help and support for inquests;
• A new offence for misleading the public, with criminal sanctions for the most serious breaches.

The government says these changes will help ensure injustices and institutional failures are never repeated.

The law has been supported by victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, the infected blood scandal, and bereaved COVID families, who want to give victims better access to justice when going up against the state.

Why has it been plagued by delays?

The bill was put forward initially by Andy Burnham in 2017, but ultimately failed to pass.

While in opposition, Sir Keir Starmer promised the legislation would be revived and after winning the election said it would be on the statute books by the time of the next anniversary.

But leading up to 15 April last year, a government spokesperson told Sky News that after consulting with families, "more time" was needed to draft the best version of the law.

It was introduced to parliament in September last year, on what campaigners called a "momentous" day.

The second reading was in November and it was due for another reading on 14 January.

But the day before, the government delayed it amid backlash from Labour MPs who claimed it was being watered down when it came to "duty of candour" for the security services.

The controversy was over an amendment that would mean only organisations - and not individuals - in the security services could be asked to testify, meaning spies would only be forced to tell the truth if the head of their service approved it.

Mr Burnham and other critics argued this could allow failures to be hidden behind the veil of "national security".

Government U-turns on amendment

The law was set to have its delayed third reading on 19 January, but was pulled again at the last minute - before it was revealed the government had scrapped the amendment regarding spies entirely.

The government now believes it's reached a point where individual employees and ex-employees of the intelligence services will be covered by a duty of candour without compromising national security.

These will be set out in amendments to the bill to be debated this week.

The changes create a process where intelligence employees send information under the duty of candour to the head of their organisation, who would then be responsible for passing it to public investigators.

Victims' minister Catherine Atkinson said there was "no carve out" for the security services.

She told the BBC's Today programme "safeguards" had been designed to ensure information they give is provided "securely and appropriately".

The prime minister's spokesman said the lies about the Hillsborough disaster were a "disgraceful injustice".

"Our legislation will right these wrongs, changing the balance of power so the state must always act for the people it's supposed to serve," they added.

"We have taken the time to get this right, working with families and campaigners to bring in a bill that's testament to their decades of campaigning, whilst never compromising on national security.

"It's a huge achievement that, after months of hard work, we now have a bill that is ready to be brought back to parliament."

(c) Sky News 2026: Hillsborough Law: What is it, why has it faced delays and a U-turn?