Hillsborough Families Renew Calls for Legal Overhaul Amid Fears Labour Will Row Back on Pledge

In a move reigniting one of the UK’s most enduring legal and moral debates, the families of the Hillsborough disaster victims have issued a forceful appeal to political leaders to honour a long-standing promise of reform. Their demand: the introduction of a robust “Hillsborough Law” that would compel public authorities and officials to tell the truth and cooperate transparently with inquiries and investigations — or face legal consequences.

The renewed call comes amid growing unease that the Labour Party, which had previously supported the proposal, may be poised to dilute or abandon the commitment as it shifts its legislative priorities.

“All or nothing”

At the heart of the campaign is what the families have described as an “all or nothing” approach to justice. Campaigners insist that only a comprehensive, statutory duty of candour — enforceable by criminal penalties — can prevent future tragedies from being compounded by institutional cover-ups.

“Partial justice is no justice at all,” said Margaret Aspinall, whose son James died at Hillsborough. “What we’re asking for is simple: truth and accountability from those in power. Not decades of obstruction, evasion, and silence.”

The proposed law would apply to public bodies, including the police, NHS, and other arms of the state, requiring them to proactively disclose information in the aftermath of public tragedies. The model has drawn comparisons with the corporate manslaughter regime introduced in 2007 but would go further by imposing personal responsibility on senior figures.

Labour’s wavering stance

Labour had previously committed to enshrining the duty in law, echoing the recommendations of the 2017 report by former Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, which examined the systemic failings that followed the 1989 disaster. However, recent comments by senior Labour figures have raised concerns that the pledge may be pared back.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting, while stopping short of confirming a U-turn, signalled that Labour need to “balance” competing legislative priorities. His comments, delivered in an interview earlier this week, have sparked disappointment among campaigners and some backbench MPs.

Lucy Powell, Labour’s Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, has also been accused of sidestepping the issue during recent parliamentary questioning, further fuelling speculation of an internal policy shift.

Government silence and legal frustration

The Conservative government has previously resisted calls to implement the Hillsborough Law in full, instead introducing a limited duty of candour for NHS bodies. Critics argue this piecemeal approach falls far short of what is required and fails to address the broader culture of institutional defensiveness that many families say exacerbated their trauma.

Legal experts have also expressed frustration at the inertia. Professor Leslie Thomas KC, a leading barrister specialising in public inquiries, said: “The legal architecture exists to ensure accountability, but without enforceable duties on individuals within the state, we will continue to see lessons unlearned and victims denied justice.”

A broader reckoning

The campaign has struck a chord beyond Hillsborough. Survivors and relatives affected by other public disasters — from the Grenfell Tower fire to the infected blood scandal — have lent their voices to the growing coalition demanding change.

For the families of the 97 who died at Hillsborough, the stakes remain deeply personal — and the window for action is narrowing.

“The truth matters,” Aspinall said. “We fought for decades to get it. Now we need a law that ensures no one else ever has to.”