Active Announced in the King's Speech on 13 May 2026. 89 of 190 events
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Public Office (Accountability) Bill

The King's Speech 2026 bill to introduce the Hillsborough Law, creating a statutory duty of candour and stronger accountability expectations for public servants and public authorities.

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2026

34 events
27 Apr 2026 | Debate linked direct

Public Office (Accountability) Bill (Carry-over)

Why linked: Motion for carry-over of Bill to next session - procedural document tracking Bill progress through Parliament

10.4 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones): I beg to move, That if, at the conclusion of this Session of Parliament, proceedings on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill have not been completed, they shall be resumed …

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27 Apr 2026 | Bill stage Ministry of Justice linked

Public Office (Accountability) Bill (Carry-over)

10.4 pm The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones): I beg to move, That if, at the conclusion of this Session of Parliament, proceedings on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill have not been completed, they shall be resumed …

▤ View Bill · ↗ Parliament
19 Mar 2026 | Debate linked direct

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Why linked: 19 March 2026 Commons oral question by Ian Byrne asking the Solicitor General about Cabinet discussions on the Bill — direct on-thread parliamentary engagement by the Hillsborough Law Now parliamentary lead.

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill. oral_question | Commons | Member: Ian Byrne (Labour)

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26 Feb 2026 | Debate Context · primary home: Statutory and Professional Du… linked direct

Exclusion

Why linked: Parliamentary debate on exclusion of MPs/Lords from Bill scope - direct scrutiny of Bill's scope and parliamentary privilege intersection

Question for Short Debate 15:30:00 Asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask His Majesty’s Government why Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords are excluded from Clause 11, “Offence of misleading the public”, of the Public …

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3 Feb 2026 | Debate linked direct

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill on the intelligence services.

Why linked: 3 February 2026 Commons oral question by Harriet Cross specifically asking about the Bill's impact on intelligence services, directly bearing on clause 6 / s.23A(10) Inquiries Act 2005 carve-out.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill on the intelligence services. oral_question | Commons | Member: Harriet Cross (Conservative)

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19 Jan 2026 | Debate linked direct

Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Why linked: Parliamentary statement on next steps for Public Office (Accountability) Bill - direct ministerial statement on implementation

20:14:00 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones): With your permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the next steps for the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, also known as the Hillsborough law. As Members will …

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19 Jan 2026 | Bill stage Ministry of Justice linked

Public Office (Accountability) Bill

20:14:00 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones): With your permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the next steps for the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, also known as the Hillsborough law. As Members will …

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2025

54 events
4 Dec 2025 | Committee sitting Public Bill Committees linked direct

Public Bill Committee: Public Office (Accountability) Bill (Fifth sitting)

Why linked: Hansard transcript of the Fifth Public Bill Committee sitting on 4 December 2025 — including clause 11 (misleading the public) debate.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chairs: Peter Dowd, † Sir Roger Gale † Asser, James (West Ham and Beckton) (Lab) † Atkinson, Catherine (Derby North) (Lab) † Botterill, Jade (Ossett and Denby Dale) (Lab) † Byrne, Ian (Liverpool …

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2 Dec 2025 | Committee sitting Public Bill Committees linked direct

Public Bill Committee: Public Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)

Why linked: Hansard transcript of the Fourth Public Bill Committee sitting on 2 December 2025.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chairs: † Peter Dowd, Sir Roger Gale † Asser, James (West Ham and Beckton) (Lab) † Atkinson, Catherine (Derby North) (Lab) † Botterill, Jade (Ossett and Denby Dale) (Lab) † Byrne, Ian (Liverpool …

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2 Dec 2025 | Committee sitting Public Bill Committees linked direct

Public Bill Committee: Public Office (Accountability) Bill (Third sitting)

Why linked: Hansard transcript of the Third Public Bill Committee sitting on 2 December 2025 — clause-by-clause consideration including intelligence-services scope.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chairs: Peter Dowd, † Sir Roger Gale † Asser, James (West Ham and Beckton) (Lab) † Atkinson, Catherine (Derby North) (Lab) † Botterill, Jade (Ossett and Denby Dale) (Lab) † Byrne, Ian (Liverpool …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Download transcript (text)
27 Nov 2025 | Committee sitting Public Bill Committees linked direct

Public Bill Committee: Public Office (Accountability) Bill (Second sitting)

Why linked: Hansard transcript of the Second Public Bill Committee sitting on 27 November 2025 — core PBC evidence record for the Bill.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chairs: † Peter Dowd, Sir Roger Gale † Asser, James (West Ham and Beckton) (Lab) Atkinson, Catherine (Derby North) (Lab) † Botterill, Jade (Ossett and Denby Dale) (Lab) † Byrne, Ian (Liverpool West …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Download transcript (text)
27 Nov 2025 | Committee sitting Public Bill Committees linked direct

Public Bill Committee: Public Office (Accountability) Bill (First sitting)

Why linked: Hansard transcript of the First Public Bill Committee sitting on 27 November 2025 — core PBC evidence record for the Bill.

The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chairs: Peter Dowd, † Sir Roger Gale † Asser, James (West Ham and Beckton) (Lab) Atkinson, Catherine (Derby North) (Lab) † Botterill, Jade (Ossett and Denby Dale) (Lab) † Byrne, Ian (Liverpool West …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Download transcript (text)
27 Nov 2025 | Committee stage Ministry of Justice linked

Committee stage

A Bill to Impose a duty on public authorities and public officials to act with candour, transparency and frankness; to make provision for the enforcement of that duty in their dealings with inquiries

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13 Nov 2025 | Debate linked direct

Hillsborough Law

Why linked: Lord Alton's QSD on progress of the Hillsborough Law (13 Nov 2025).

Question for Short Debate 16:03:00 Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in the development of the proposed ‘Hillsborough Law’. Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB): My Lords, the Prime Minister opened …

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3 Nov 2025 | Bill stage Ministry of Justice linked

Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Second Reading 5.27 pm The Prime Minister (Keir Starmer): I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Before I come to the Bill, I put on record in this House my own tribute to the …

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3 Nov 2025 | Second reading Ministry of Justice linked

Second reading

A Bill to Impose a duty on public authorities and public officials to act with candour, transparency and frankness; to make provision for the enforcement of that duty in their dealings with inquiries

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16 Sep 2025 | Bill introduced Ministry of Justice linked

First reading

A Bill to Impose a duty on public authorities and public officials to act with candour, transparency and frankness; to make provision for the enforcement of that duty in their dealings with inquiries

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3 Sep 2025 | Debate Context · primary home: Statutory and Professional Du… linked direct

Duty of Candour for Public Authorities and Legal Representation for Bereaved Families — Westminster Hall debate — Hansard, 3 September 2025

Why linked: Westminster Hall debate (3 Sept 2025) specifically on duty of candour and legal representation in the Hillsborough Law context.

I am here to speak about the urgent need for a statutory duty of candour and the full implementation of the Hillsborough law, and to oppose the forces that want to fight against this change.

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24 Jul 2025 | Debate linked direct

“Hillsborough Law”

Why linked: Lords Oral Question on Hillsborough Law (24 July 2025).

Question 11:37:00 Asked by Lord Storey: To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in introducing the proposed “Hillsborough Law”. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede) (Lab): My Lords, we remain committed …

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9 Jul 2025 | Bill proceedings linked direct

Government policy on the Hillsborough Law

Why linked: EDM/motion on Government policy on the Hillsborough Law and the 36th anniversary deadline.

That this House notes the Prime Minister’s promise to introduce the Hillsborough Law to Parliament before the 36th anniversary of the disaster on 15 April 2025; deeply regrets that this commitment was not met and that the Government has yet …

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22 Apr 2025 | Bill proceedings Context · primary home: Statutory and Professional Du… linked direct

Introduction of the Hillsborough Law and the 36th anniversary

Why linked: Parliamentary motion on introduction of the Hillsborough Law and the 36th anniversary — directly engages the Government's missed introduction-pledge.

That this House supports the urgent introduction of the Hillsborough Law to ensure justice, transparency and accountability in public inquiries and inquests; recognises the tireless campaigning of the Hillsborough families and survivors, who have fought for over three decades for …

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22 Apr 2025 | Debate linked direct

“Hillsborough Law”

Why linked: Lords Oral Question on Hillsborough Law (22 April 2025) — companion record to event pk=56261.

Question 15:10:00 Asked by Baroness Chakrabarti: To ask His Majesty’s Government when they intend to introduce the ‘Hillsborough Law’ as set out in the Labour Party Manifesto 2024; and what steps they are taking to ensure any such legislation will …

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22 Apr 2025 | Debate Context · primary home: Statutory and Professional Du… linked commitment

'Hillsborough Law' — Lords Oral Questions — Hansard

Why linked: Lords oral questions on the Hillsborough Law in April 2025 — captures the government's pre-bill commitment and the political pressure around the missed April 2025 deadline.

Yes, the Government are very clear: we remain fully committed to bringing legislation forward at pace, which will include a legal duty of candour for public servants and criminal sanctions for those who refuse to comply.

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2024

1 event
1 Feb 2024 | Bill proceedings linked direct

Independent Panel Inquiry into the death of Zane Gbangbola

Why linked: Parliamentary motion linking Post Office Horizon scandal to the case for a Hillsborough Law and a duty of candour on public servants — directly engages the policy rationale for the Bill.

That this House notes that the Post Office Horizon scandal has reemphasised the need for a Hillsborough Law; acknowledges that more tragedies would benefit from a duty of candour on public servants and a parity of arms; supports the call …

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