Families bereaved by state-related deaths and those affected by miscarriages of justice have issued a clear warning to Government following reports that the forthcoming Bill will fail to contain the key elements of Hillsborough Law.
A new report published today by INQUEST brings together the powerful voices of bereaved families, victims and survivors of some of the worst failings of public services and the legal system in the UK. This includes those affected by the Hillsborough disaster, Grenfell Tower fire, Post Office Horizon scandal, infected blood scandal and many others. These participants are united in their concerns about the Government’s plans for a Hillsborough Law, which was included in the 2024 King’s Speech.
The testimony featured in this report reflects the emotional and financial toll of families forced to spend years, and in some cases decades, fighting for the truth despite cover-ups, denials and outright lies told by public and private organisations.
The report also shows how the injustice experienced by the bereaved and survivors following the Hillsborough disaster is still a painful reality today.
It is therefore critical, families told INQUEST, that a Hillsborough Law ensures a statutory duty of candour backed up by effective provisions to ensure compliance, and robust sanctions to ensure accountability. This would bring to an end the culture of denial and cover-ups following state failings which currently prevail.
Another key demand of families is for the law to provide for public funding for their legal representation following state failures to ensure equality of arms with public bodies. Under the current system, families are often left without public funding and forced to crowd fund to cover their legal costs, whilst state bodies have legions of lawyers.
Families see Hillsborough Law as a potential watershed moment, one that could redress the power of the state, fulfil the legacy project that Hillsborough families and survivors have fought for, and prevent future deaths and harm.
However, the report makes clear that families and victims fear the Government will change or amend the 2017 Bill and, as such, are demanding that Hillsborough Law be “all or nothing”.
Those involved in this report hope the Government heed their voices and resist attempts to dilute the bill, stressing that any compromise would undermine its vital purpose.
A full copy of the report is available here.
Deborah Coles, Director at INQUEST, said: “At the Family Listening Day, we heard about some of the worst failings of our public services and legal system over decades. This institutional defensiveness and cruelty to families must end.
While a further delay by Government is disappointing, it must now be used as an urgent opportunity to ensure the bill meets families’ demands. The evidence in our report is too compelling and stark to ignore. Anything less will be a betrayal.”
Margaret Aspinall, Hillsborough bereaved family member whose son James was one of the 97 unlawfully killed, said: “After hearing the stories of all the other families fighting for justice, I am more determined than ever to demand that the Hillsborough Law presented to Parliament is all or nothing. This is the legacy of families and survivors – the bill has got to be right.”
Charlotte Hennessy, Hillsborough bereaved family member whose father Jimmy was one of the 97 unlawfully killed, said: “It has been devastating to learn how the lies and cover-ups we faced as Hillsborough families and survivors have been felt by so many others. We must make it easier for families and victims to find out the truth about what happened to their loved ones.
That’s why I will keep fighting for a Hillsborough Law – for my dad, for the 97 and for everyone else affected by the state’s lies and cover-ups. Hillsborough Law is our opportunity for real accountability and change.”
Lobby Akinnola lost his father, Femi, to COVID-19 in April 2020. He joined COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice and has been campaigning with many others to attain justice for those who lost their lives and to protect generations to come from future pandemics, said: “This report speaks with a clarity that bereaved families know too well — the system isn’t broken; it’s working exactly as designed to protect institutions and wear families down.
The Hillsborough Law is not a symbolic fix. It’s a practical one — a duty of candour, equal access to legal representation, and real oversight.
Those bereaved by Covid have seen first-hand how easily the truth is delayed, diluted or denied. Without full implementation of this law, the cycle will repeat. And families will keep paying the price”
Natasha Elcock, Chair, Grenfell United, said: “The denial and cover-up after Grenfell should never have been allowed to happen. Instead of accepting responsibility, we saw so many institutions and companies trying to protect their reputation after 72 people died.
Why is it so easy for public and private agencies to escape accountability and scrutiny? Establishing a duty of candour could prevent this, help us learn from failures and ensure bereaved and survivors are properly supported. This is why a Hillsborough Law is so urgent.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information and to arrange interviews please contact [email protected].
Hillsborough Law is also known as the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill, which was introduced by Andy Burnham in 2017. This Bill would establish a statutory duty of candour on public authorities to stop the lies and cover-ups which took place following the Hillsborough Football Disaster and continue today.
The 2017 Bill would also provide for parity of funding for bereaved people, to ensure equality of arms with the state.
Families demand all or nothing Hillsborough Law
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Families bereaved by state-related deaths and those affected by miscarriages of justice have issued a clear warning to Government following reports that the forthcoming Bill will fail to contain the key elements of Hillsborough Law.
A new report published today by INQUEST brings together the powerful voices of bereaved families, victims and survivors of some of the worst failings of public services and the legal system in the UK. This includes those affected by the Hillsborough disaster, Grenfell Tower fire, Post Office Horizon scandal, infected blood scandal and many others. These participants are united in their concerns about the Government’s plans for a Hillsborough Law, which was included in the 2024 King’s Speech.
The testimony featured in this report reflects the emotional and financial toll of families forced to spend years, and in some cases decades, fighting for the truth despite cover-ups, denials and outright lies told by public and private organisations.
The report also shows how the injustice experienced by the bereaved and survivors following the Hillsborough disaster is still a painful reality today.
It is therefore critical, families told INQUEST, that a Hillsborough Law ensures a statutory duty of candour backed up by effective provisions to ensure compliance, and robust sanctions to ensure accountability. This would bring to an end the culture of denial and cover-ups following state failings which currently prevail.
Another key demand of families is for the law to provide for public funding for their legal representation following state failures to ensure equality of arms with public bodies. Under the current system, families are often left without public funding and forced to crowd fund to cover their legal costs, whilst state bodies have legions of lawyers.
Families see Hillsborough Law as a potential watershed moment, one that could redress the power of the state, fulfil the legacy project that Hillsborough families and survivors have fought for, and prevent future deaths and harm.
However, the report makes clear that families and victims fear the Government will change or amend the 2017 Bill and, as such, are demanding that Hillsborough Law be “all or nothing”.
Those involved in this report hope the Government heed their voices and resist attempts to dilute the bill, stressing that any compromise would undermine its vital purpose.
A full copy of the report is available here.
Deborah Coles, Director at INQUEST, said: “At the Family Listening Day, we heard about some of the worst failings of our public services and legal system over decades. This institutional defensiveness and cruelty to families must end.
While a further delay by Government is disappointing, it must now be used as an urgent opportunity to ensure the bill meets families’ demands. The evidence in our report is too compelling and stark to ignore. Anything less will be a betrayal.”
Margaret Aspinall, Hillsborough bereaved family member whose son James was one of the 97 unlawfully killed, said: “After hearing the stories of all the other families fighting for justice, I am more determined than ever to demand that the Hillsborough Law presented to Parliament is all or nothing. This is the legacy of families and survivors – the bill has got to be right.”
Charlotte Hennessy, Hillsborough bereaved family member whose father Jimmy was one of the 97 unlawfully killed, said: “It has been devastating to learn how the lies and cover-ups we faced as Hillsborough families and survivors have been felt by so many others. We must make it easier for families and victims to find out the truth about what happened to their loved ones.
That’s why I will keep fighting for a Hillsborough Law – for my dad, for the 97 and for everyone else affected by the state’s lies and cover-ups. Hillsborough Law is our opportunity for real accountability and change.”
Lobby Akinnola lost his father, Femi, to COVID-19 in April 2020. He joined COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice and has been campaigning with many others to attain justice for those who lost their lives and to protect generations to come from future pandemics, said: “This report speaks with a clarity that bereaved families know too well — the system isn’t broken; it’s working exactly as designed to protect institutions and wear families down.
The Hillsborough Law is not a symbolic fix. It’s a practical one — a duty of candour, equal access to legal representation, and real oversight.
Those bereaved by Covid have seen first-hand how easily the truth is delayed, diluted or denied. Without full implementation of this law, the cycle will repeat. And families will keep paying the price”
Natasha Elcock, Chair, Grenfell United, said: “The denial and cover-up after Grenfell should never have been allowed to happen. Instead of accepting responsibility, we saw so many institutions and companies trying to protect their reputation after 72 people died.
Why is it so easy for public and private agencies to escape accountability and scrutiny? Establishing a duty of candour could prevent this, help us learn from failures and ensure bereaved and survivors are properly supported. This is why a Hillsborough Law is so urgent.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information and to arrange interviews please contact [email protected].
Hillsborough Law is also known as the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill, which was introduced by Andy Burnham in 2017. This Bill would establish a statutory duty of candour on public authorities to stop the lies and cover-ups which took place following the Hillsborough Football Disaster and continue today.
The 2017 Bill would also provide for parity of funding for bereaved people, to ensure equality of arms with the state.
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