Hillsborough Law Passes: Starmer and Burnham Hail Historic Vote

On 14 July 2026, MPs approved the Hillsborough Law, formally the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, in a vote that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said leaves the UK 'standing on the precipice of change'. The legislation imposes a legal duty on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and cooperate with official investigations and inquiries, a direct response to the cover-ups that followed the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor and a long-time campaigner for the law, said the bill ensures 'justice for ordinary people going forward' and described it as 'some legacy' for Starmer, whom Burnham is expected to replace as Prime Minister. The bill now moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before it can receive Royal Assent.

The Long Road to Accountability

The Hillsborough disaster claimed 97 lives after a crush during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. In the aftermath, police leaders spread false narratives blaming Liverpool fans and withheld evidence of their own failings. For decades, the families fought for the truth, a struggle that Starmer acknowledged in the Commons, saying the Hillsborough families 'fought so that no family like them should ever have to endure and suffer what they went through'.

The legislation had been delayed by wrangling over how the duty of candour applies to the intelligence services. Ministers broke the deadlock with a series of amendments approved by MPs on Tuesday, paving the way for the Commons vote. The Conservatives accused Starmer of rushing the legislation through its final stages following those late changes.

National Security Concerns Addressed

Victims minister Catherine Atkinson rejected suggestions the bill would endanger national security. In her speech opening the report stage debate, she stated: 'Nothing in this bill or its practical effect changes our position in relation to national security. Many in our public services work in sensitive roles, where revealing their identity could put them at risk, or others at risk. The bill does not require anyone to breach any other law – it expressly states that it does not override existing legislation, including the Official Secrets Act 1989.'

Atkinson also said ministers 'intend to make broad use' of the duty of candour, telling MPs it could extend to 'investigations into police misconduct, serious healthcare incidents like major maternity reviews, such as the Leeds and Sussex maternity services review, serious health and safety investigations, and key ombudsman investigations'.

The bill contains a specific protection for the requirement to notify for employees of the intelligence services and other select bodies where they cannot come forward. However, Atkinson made clear that 'a public servant does not have to come forward until it is safe to do so but steps must be taken without delay to ensure a notification can be made safely'.

What the Law Means for Public Accountability

The Hillsborough Law creates a statutory duty of candour, meaning public bodies and their officials must proactively disclose information relevant to investigations and inquiries, rather than waiting to be asked. This is intended to prevent the kind of institutional cover-up that occurred after Hillsborough, where police and other authorities withheld evidence and spread misinformation for years.

The legislation is a landmark for transparency in public life, but its journey is not over. The House of Lords will now scrutinise the bill, and while the Commons has approved the core provisions, amendments could still be made. The government will need to ensure the bill maintains its integrity through the upper chamber.

Political Reactions and Context

Starmer's personal connection to the issue is well-known: as Director of Public Prosecutions, he oversaw the first inquests into the Hillsborough deaths and later supported the campaign for a full public inquiry. Burnham, a former Labour MP and now mayor, has also been a vocal advocate. Their joint appearance in the Commons to hail the vote underscored the cross-party significance of the moment, even as the Conservatives criticised the process.

The vote comes amid a broader push for public sector accountability. The Bristol Post's reporting on systematic failures in the Barton House evacuation and the HMP Wandsworth review both highlight the ongoing need for transparency in public institutions. The Hillsborough Law provides a legal framework to address such failures, though its effectiveness will depend on enforcement and cultural change within public bodies.

For the families, the vote is a vindication of decades of campaigning. As Starmer put it, the law is a promise that 'no family like them should ever have to endure and suffer what they went through'. The bill now enters the Lords, where further debate is expected, but the principle of a legal duty of candour for public authorities has been firmly established.