Liverpool Lib Dem Leader calls for reassurances on Hillsborough Law

• Cllr Carl Cashman has written to the Home Secretary calling for reassurances that the duty of candour won’t be watered down
• Labour promised the bill would be put before the Commons before the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster on April 15th but now admits that the deadline will be missed. 
• Cllr Carl Cashman: “The families and campaigners have waited long enough, any further delay is unacceptable.”

The Leader of the Opposition on Liverpool City Council, Cllr Carl Cashman, has written to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, raising the concerns brought to him by families and campaigners over the delays and rumoured watering down of the Hillsborough Law.

In July 2024, Liverpool City Council passed a motion affirming it’s support for a Hillsborough Law and a duty of candour for public authorities and officials. It called on the Government to bring forward the bill as soon as possible.

Back in September 2024, the Prime Minister committed that the Hillsborough law would be introduced in Parliament before the 36th anniversary of the disaster on April 15th. However, the Government will miss their own deadline for bringing forward the bill.

In his letter, Cllr Cashman reiterates the reasons why the law is so vital and the promises made by the Prime Minister. Cllr Cashman asks for assurances from the Home Secretary that ample parliamentary time and debate is given to the bill after the house returns after the Easter recess and that the duty of candour is not watered down.

Cllr Cashman, Leader of the Opposition, said:

“It’s important that the bill comes before the House of Commons fully intact and not watered down - that means a full duty of candour for public officials and bodies, criminal penalties, and parity of funding. Anything less would be letting the families and campaigners down.

“The Prime Minister and by extension his government, made a promise that a Hillsborough Law would be brought before the house and it hasn’t. I know when I make a promise, I stick by it. The families and campaigners have had years of broken promises and lies - we thought that would have stopped. I’m urging Labour to apologise and make this a priority for when the Commons comes back after its Easter recess.”