The government’s failure to commit to the adoption of a ‘Hillsborough Law’ has been branded ‘cynical and inadequate’ by a silk who represents victims’ families.

On Wednesday this week, ministers published a delayed response to former Bishop of Liverpool the Right Reverend James Jones’s report into the experiences of families of the 97 victims of the 1989 tragedy.  The government said it had signed up to a Hillsborough Charter, pledging to place the public interest above its own reputation, but said a ’Hillsborough Law’ incorporating a legal duty of candour was unnecessary. 

Justice secretary Alex Chalk KC stressed that the Hillsborough Charter commits signatories — the leaders of public bodies — to ‘strive to place the public interest above the reputation of their own organisations’.

Pete Weatherby KC, of Garden Court North Chambers, led the team representing 22 of the bereaved Hillsborough families at new inquests into the deaths. He gave evidence to the parliamentary joint committee on human rights earlier this year regarding a Hillsborough Law, duty of candour and legal aid funding (equality of arms) for all families in inquests where the state is involved.

Tribute to the 97 Liverpool supporters that died in the Hillsborough disaster

Tribute to the 97 Liverpool supporters that died in the Hillsborough disaster

Source: MI News/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Reacting to this week’s announcement, Weatherby said: ‘The government response is completely cynical and inadequate, adding no new duties on public servants or powers to prevent cover-ups. It pretends to address massive and ongoing problems of lack of candour, whilst doing the opposite. The Labour Party has promised to enact Hillsborough Law if elected, supported by almost all the other parties. The families will continue to fight to ensure that promise is kept.’

Liverpool FC supporters group Spirit of Shankly called the government’s rejection of Hillsborough Law reforms ‘contemptible’. It said the Hillsborough Charter ‘allows no surety of compliance or enforcement and stops short of addressing all issues required by law. No openness, no duty of candour of those public bodies and officials involved.

‘Again, the Hillsborough families and survivors have been denied justice, as have all those who have suffered from delay, obstruction and cover-up by the state, police and other public bodies.’

 

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