Hillsborough Law Progress – Second Reading in the House of Commons

Independent Public Advocate, Cindy Butts, said:

“Today (3 November) carries deep significance for the families and campaigners who have fought tirelessly to make the Hillsborough Law a reality.

“As the Public Office (Accountability) Bill returns to Parliament for its Second reading, we stand alongside all those who have campaigned for this essential step to ensure that public officials are legally bound to act with honesty, transparency, and integrity.

“This Bill is a legacy of the Hillsborough families’ decades-long struggle. It introduces a legal duty of candour and strengthens equality of arms, vital principles that will help the Independent Public Advocate (IPA) carry out its role effectively. A statutory duty to tell the truth, and genuine legal parity, are foundational to securing justice for victims and families after major incidents. It seeks to restore moral accountability to public life by challenging cultures of avoidance, opacity, and self-protection. When things go wrong, people should expect candour, not cover-up. 

“We will be watching the Bill’s progress closely. It is a real test of the Government’s commitment to the promises made not only to the Hillsborough families, but to all those whose pursuit of truth has too often been met with obstruction and delay. This is about ensuring that honesty is not an act of bravery, but the standard the system lives by.

“Today belongs to the families, survivors, and campaigners who never gave up on truth and justice.”