Sir Keir Starmer will end his time in office without passing the flagship Hillsborough Law – as ministers wrangle with spies over the disclosure of secret evidence.
Officials said hopes were fading that Starmer can get the bill over the line before leaving office in the coming weeks, raising the prospect of Andy Burnham taking forward the legislation – and political credit – instead.
The Public Authority (Accountability) Bill was due to be passed in April last year – on the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool FC fans were killed. Another victim died in 2021 as a result of his injuries.
However, the bill was paused due to a backlash over proposed exemptions for intelligence services.
The policy aims to create a new professional and legal “duty of candour” – meaning public officials must always act with honesty and integrity – with criminal sanctions for egregious breaches.
