An incoming Labour government will put a new Hillsborough Law onto the statute book.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will confirm the party's plans to bring in the new legislation - also known as the Public Authorities (Accountability) Bill - when its annual conference takes place in Liverpool in the coming days. The city will play host to the showpiece event from Sunday September 25 to Wednesday September 28.
Campaigners, including the families and survivors of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, have been calling for the creation of new laws and regulations that will help to prevent future injustices where there is state involvement. The Hillsborough Law Campaign, backed by the ECHO, is a broad coalition of bereaved families and victims of public disasters, campaigners and politicians.
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As part of the legislation, Labour will introduce:
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A duty of candour: to ensure that public authorities and officials proactively cooperate with official investigations – to offer the transparency and accountability they need to succeed
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Legal aid: to entitle victims of disasters or state-related deaths to parity of legal representation during inquests and inquiries, meaning they are funded for lawyers, putting them on a level playing field with public bodies which are represented
- An independent public advocate: to act as a representative for bereaved families that have lost ones in a disaster. They would advocate for their best interests, and establish a panel to review all the evidence, documentation, and data relating to the tragedy - to advise on the course of action most likely to get justice
- A code of ethics: which would require all public authorities to publish a ‘Code of Ethics’ that promotes ethical behaviour, transparency, and candour. This should take account of the Seven Principles of Public Life, provides reasonable protection for whistle-blowers, and offer a complaints system that is accessible to the public.
Ahead of the party conference, Sir Keir Starmer said: "Labour stands unequivocally with the Hillsborough families. We've repeatedly called for the Hillsborough Law and making it reality would be a priority of my Labour government.
“As Director of Public Prosecutions, I spoke with the Hillsborough families, before the Independent panel would decide whether criminal trials or an inquest should come first. Their raw pain was matched by their inspirational courage. Nobody should ever have to endure what they've been through.
“In July this year I visited the Hillsborough memorial and met with campaigner Margaret Aspinall, whose son James was amongst the victims of the tragedy. For Margaret, for James, and the 96 other lives tragically lost, we will change the law to stop this happening again."
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