EXCLUSIVE: Officials have confirmed to The Mirror that a breakthrough has been made in getting the Hillsborough Law back before MPs this week, with a new process for making intelligence service staff comply with a duty of candour13:07, 12 Jul 2026Updated 08:52, 13 Jul 2026The Hillsborough Law is finally set to pass after a major breakthrough in the final days of Keir Starmer's premiership.‌The Mirror can confirm the long-delayed Public Office (Accountability) Bill will be put back in front of MPs this week, and is expected to clear its last Commons hurdle after years of promises. It follows months of behind-the-scenes negotiations to resolve a dispute about whether a duty of candour should apply to intelligence services.‌The development has been hailed as an "overwhelming victory" to prevent future cover-ups like the one that followed the tragic deaths of 97 Liverpool fans in 1989. Families of those who died had voiced their frustration at the deadlock, but said they were delighted the obstacle had been overcome.‌Margaret Aspinall, who chairs the Hillsborough Family Support Group, told The Mirror: “I’m absolutely delighted, over the bloody moon, absolutely made up.”Margaret, whose son James, 18, died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, added: “To be honest, when I was speaking to Keir Starmer I told him this would be a lovely legacy for you to leave behind.‌“I always believed he wanted to give us the Hillsborough law. It was others stopping him. Now it’s done, I’m delighted.“Our families have worked hard for this, but it’s not for us, it’s for the country. We’ve done it for the people of this country. I’m so proud.“People have to tell the truth, whoever they are. The lies have cost millions. The cover ups have cost millions. The truth costs nothing.”‌The bill is expected to clear its last hurdle in the Commons this week, ahead of Mr Starmer's departure from No10. He came to power promising to make the Hillsborough Law a priority for his government.Amendments to be put forward this week mean individuals who currently or formerly worked for intelligence agencies can be given 'compliance directions'. Insiders believe this will iron out concerns about national security being compromised by forcing staff to assist inquiries and investigations into failings by the state.New amendments will create a process so this can happen "securely in a national security context". Under the new proposals, individual employees will send information to the head of the body they work for.‌This chief is then responsible for passing on information to the inquiry or investigation - subject to existing legal arrangements for protecting sensitive information.Labour promised to bring in a Hillsborough Law in its 2024 election manifesto. But despite promises to get it over the line, the legislation has been mired in legal wrangling since September last year.‌A government source said: "This is an overwhelming victory after months of hard work to find a solution that ensures we have a duty of candour that applies to the intelligence services without compromising national security."The Hillsborough Law will fundamentally change the balance of power so the state can never hide from the people it is supposed to serve, and so victims can always get justice."The legislation will require public officials to act with honesty or risk criminal sanctions. It was pulled from the Commons in January after a major row over an amendment relating to how it applies to the security services, including MI5.‌Dozens of Liverpool fans were crushed to death in pens by police failures at an FA Cup semi-final in 1989, with an inquest a decade ago finding they were unlawfully killed. In the aftermath key public servants - including police - were found to have not told the truth about decisions leading to the fatal crush.Earlier the Hillsborough Law campaign told The Liverpool Echo : "The Government has now conceded that there will be no carve-outs, no exemptions for security services or anyone else, breaking the impasse that has persisted since January."This is an important milestone, not just for Hillsborough families, but for every family who has experienced a cover-up and lack of accountability from public authorities. We are a big step closer to ensuring that no family has to again fight for the truth for decades."‌Last week Deputy PM David Lammy said he was confident the bill would be back in front of Parliament in the coming days. The deadlock came after intelligence chiefs called for an opt-out if they believed giving evidence would compromise national security.But families said they could not accept this - pointing to accusations that MI5 had misled a public inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.A Hillsborough Law Now spokesperson said: "When brought into force, this law will mark the biggest change in public accountability for generations. It is designed to be practical, effective and hard hitting, delivering swifter justice for those affected, more efficient and cheaper processes, and no hiding place for official wrongdoing and failure."Article continues belowThey added: "This law is not just about Hillsborough. It is about changing the culture of public authorities, preventing future cover-ups, and ensuring that honesty, accountability and justice become the standard—not the exception."