Public Office (Accountability) Bill passes through the House of Commons
On Tuesday 14 July, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, also know as the Hillsborough Bill, was passed unanimously by MPs at its Third Reading in the House of Commons.
It will now go to the House of Lords before it can receive Royal Assent and become Law.
The Bill introduces a duty of candour, compelling public officials and authorities to act transparently when investigations and inquiries take place. It also makes provisions for parity of arms, so that survivors and bereaved families can get the legal support they need when involved in investigations and inquiries against institutions.
The legislation was originally due to be delivered by April 15 last year, to mark the 36th anniversary of the disaster. However, progress was stalled following concerns from campaigners over its application to intelligence agencies.
On Tuesday, it was amended to bring spies within the scope of the duty of candour, but with a “secure process” for disclosing information that could affect national security.
Cindy Butts, the Independent Public Advocate, joined families in parliament to observe this landmark moment.
It was a powerful and deeply emotional debate. Ian Byrne’s speech was particularly moving. As both a Hillsborough survivor and an MP who has so passionately championed this legislation, he spoke with a conviction that could only come from lived experience.
This Bill has many parents. Above all, it belongs to the Hillsborough families, whose extraordinary perseverance over decades ensured that truth could not be buried.
It also reflects the efforts of countless campaigners, lawyers, parliamentarians and supporters who refused to accept that the search for truth and justice should end. Among them is Maria Eagle MP, who also spoke in yesterday’s debate. I am deeply grateful for her steadfast support of the IPA and her work to ensure my office is equipped to deliver on its commitments to victims, survivors and bereaved families.
As the Bill now goes to the House of Lords, we must remain focused on the cultural change required to bring its principles fully to life.
The true legacy of this legislation will not be measured by its passage through Parliament, but by whether future victims, survivors and bereaved families are spared the decades-long struggle for truth and justice that followed Hillsborough.