On the day the city falls silent for the 97 Liverpool fans unlawfully killed, the ECHO joins families and campaigners in urging the Prime Minister to deliver what he promised. Now.
On the 37th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, when Liverpool will fall silent in remembrance, the ECHO joins the families of those whose loved ones were unlawfully killed and all those affected by the 1989 disaster in demanding that a Hillsborough Law be put in place in full, with no more delays.
As another anniversary passes without a promised Hillsborough Law on the statute books, families, survivors and politicians are calling on the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, to finally deliver what he promised – and to do it now.
The Hillsborough Law will be a landmark piece of legislation, named in honour of the 97 Liverpool fans who were unlawfully killed following disastrous police errors after travelling to watch their team play against Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on this day in 1989.
The Hillsborough Law Bill, also known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, will include a legally bound duty of candour, which will force public officials to tell the truth during inquiries and inquests. The aim is to stop anyone else who is caught up in a state-related disaster or scandal facing the lies and smears that the families of the 97 did as they battled for truth and justice for their loved ones.
The new law will also, for the first time, ensure a parity of legal aid for families appearing at inquests and inquiries to give those who are unlucky enough to be caught up in tragic circumstances a level playing field when going up against the state.
The ECHO was privileged to sit alongside the Hillsborough families last September when the legislation was first laid before Parliament. Sadly, the progress of the bill has since been heavily delayed amid rows over how the new law will cover the security services.
The families have always been clear. This will not be a Hillsborough Law unless it covers all public agencies, with no exceptions, and they will not support it unless it does. They are absolutely right to say this.
It now appears the Prime Minister – who has repeatedly promised this law will come into force in full – may be about to scrap the proposed amendment that would have given the security services a veto, meaning security chiefs would not be able to bypass the duty of candour in this bill.
That sounds like very promising news. What is deeply disappointing is that this potentially pivotal development was leaked to a national newspaper before the families – the people who have spent their lives campaigning for this vital change – were even aware of it.
There is an irony that this is the same type of Westminster behaviour that saw those who died and were injured at Hillsborough Stadium on that horrendous day blamed with lies and smears that appeared on newspaper front pages and caused so many more years of heartache for their traumatised families.
Speaking to the ECHO on the 37th anniversary of the loss of her beloved son James, who was just 18-years-old when he went to watch his team and never came home, Margaret Aspinall said she is tired of waiting for what was promised.
The 79-year-old campaigner, for so long the face of the fight for truth and justice, said: “We were promised the Hillsborough Law would be in place 12 months ago, and here we are at the 37th year, and it has still not been done.
“I have been campaigning for 37 years now; I don’t want another anniversary to pass without having this legacy for the 97. I am hoping that Mr Starmer will be a man of his word and give us this full law. I have already told him we will not accept anything but a Hillsborough Law in its entirety.”
On the recent leak, she said: “I am absolutely fuming about the leak. We have always been told the families would be the first to know. This has caused so much more upset.”
She added: “I am 80 later this year, but we will keep going on this for the legacy of the 97 and for the young people of this country. We hope they will never need a Hillsborough Law but they may need this in place.”
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne was at Hillsborough Stadium on the day of the disaster. He is the parliamentary lead for the Hillsborough Law campaign and will be demanding answers from Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions to how another anniversary has passed without his promise being delivered.
Mr Byrne said: “It’s unforgivable, really. There have been so many promises, and here we are, another year on, with no Hillsborough Law.
“The Prime Minister must now take control of this; he must deliver what he promised, and he must push back on the forces that do not want accountability, that do not want a Hillsborough Law. He’s got to lead and deliver for this country, and that is what I will be saying to him today.
“It’s the 37th anniversary, and it’s always an extremely difficult day, but I think not having what was promised in place, not having that legacy for the 37th, makes it even more difficult. We should have that law in place and have something positive in place for the families. The time to deliver this is now.”
Another person who was at the stadium in Sheffield on the day of the disaster is Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, who has campaigned alongside his close friend, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, for a Hillsborough Law for years.
He told the ECHO that the two mayors have been working behind the scenes with ministers to try to get the legislation over the line. He remains hopeful that something will happen soon.
He added: “It is so frustrating that we have not yet been able to finalise some of these details of the Hillsborough Law Bill. The main things are in place, and everyone agrees on them – but the families certainly want what they have asked for and what has been promised to them and that means a whole Hillsborough Law.
“This must include all the public agencies, including the security services. Myself and Andy Burnham have been meeting with all of the relevant parties, including the intelligence services, to see if we can make progress, and we are hopeful that something will happen soon.”
Charlotte Hennessy was just six years old when her dad, James, was unlawfully killed at Hillsborough.
She told the ECHO: “The anniversary is never easy, but for me, April 14th is the worst. Knowing what is coming the following day, the sorrow that it brings to so many people.
“I particularly feel really bitter that my own sons are having to navigate life through this now. Grieving for a grandad they never even knew but feeling the grief for him so deeply and having that sense of responsibility to support me, other families, and survivors.
“These past 12 months have been particularly challenging because every single day there is speak of Hillsborough or the Bill. We are constantly having to relive, retell, and argue why the duty of candour needs to be watertight, as well as advocating for others who are currently fighting that state in relation to recent deaths and failures.
“People are quick enough to highlight the amount of money long-term investigations and inquiries cost, but what about the time Hillsborough families spent decades fighting for their loved ones? Countless Hillsborough family members died tormented, some not knowing their child was unlawfully killed.
“For bereaved children like me, this “Hillsborough life” is all we have ever known. All that time spent fighting for truth and accountability that we can’t get back.”
Ms Hennessy added: “This is my main drive to ensure the Public Office Accountability Bill. Bereaved, distraught, traumatised people should not have to plead and beg for truth, and professionals should not be allowed to omit or mislead, ruin lives along the way, and then face no consequences.
“I truly hope that we are near the end and the Bill comes very quickly following the anniversary because I am not sure that I could do this for another year.”
A minute’s silence will be held outside Liverpool Town Hall today to mark the 37th anniversary of the tragedy. The silence will begin at 3.06pm – the exact time the match was stopped – in memory of the 97 fans who lost their lives, their families and all those affected by the disaster.
