Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey has called on Sir Keir Starmer to pass the long-awaited Hillsborough Law through Parliament.
The call came during today’s Prime Minister’s Questions, where Mr Davey questioned the Prime Minister’s failure to pass the Hillsborough Law through Parliament, despite him stating upon election that it would be a priority for his government.
Mr Davey said: “There should be no more delays in putting the Hillsborough Law on the statute books.
“The Prime Minister once said it would be one of the first things he did in Number 10. Will he finally do it now, even if it is the last thing?”
The Prime Minister rebutted Mr Davey’s suggestions, saying that the Liberal Democrats were in power when the law was first proposed.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “They [the Liberal Democrats] could have passed this law a long time ago and saved a lot of grief.”
The Hillsborough Law, officially titled ‘The Public Office (Accountability) Bill’, would create a legal duty for public authorities to be transparent and honest during inquiries.
This would mean that anyone in public office who lies or evades the truth in relation to public inquiries could face prosecution.
The law would also provide non-means tested funding and support during inquests for the families of individuals involved in deaths related to public authorities.
It was introduced in response to the 1989 disaster, where 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives during a crowd crush at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield.
The Bill was brought into Parliament in September 2025 by the Labour Government, and is currently in the report stage of the law-making process.
However, the final debate was delayed by Starmer’s government back in January, following backlash surrounding a proposed amendment which would have made the co-operation of UK security services subject to the approval of the head of the service.
The Government says they are working with the families involved to reach an agreement on the amendment before bringing it back to Parliament.
Liverpool’s Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has been a vocal supporter of the legislation, having worked closely with Manchester Metro Mayor Andy Burnham to introduce the Bill to Parliament.
However, he has also emphasised the need to not rush through the Bill, instead focusing on making sure that it achieves its intended purpose.
Speaking to BBC Merseyside, Mr Rotheram said: “I’d rather get it right than expedite it as quickly as we possibly need to, because you can make mistakes.”
Featured Image: Sir Ed Davey in the House of Commons, November 2025. Copyright: House of Commons. Obtained under the Creative Commons License.
