Hillsborough Law

Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2024-26: Progress of the bill

Why linked: Commons Library briefing tracking progress of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, explicitly framed as the Hillsborough Law.

Type: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-10424) The "Hillsborough Law" would create a duty of candour for public officials and introduce parity of representation for bereaved families at inquests.

Offence of misleading the public: Public Office (Accountability) Bill — House of Lords Library

Clause 11 creates a new offence of misleading the public, designed to capture the most serious incidents such as the behaviour seen after Hillsborough.

House of Lords Library

Why linked: House of Lords Library briefing on the Hillsborough Law manifesto commitment and Bill.

The government has committed to introducing a 'Hillsborough Law', placing a legal duty of candour on public servants and providing legal aid for victims of state related deaths and disasters.

Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2024-26

Why linked: Commons Library briefing CBP-10359 on the Bill (same content as event pk=56263, retained as candidate for cross-reference).

Type: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-10359) The "Hillsborough Law" would create a duty of candour for public officials and introduce parity of representation for bereaved families at inquests.

Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2024-26 — Commons Library Briefing Paper PDF

Why linked: Full PDF of the Commons Library briefing — the most comprehensive single document for policy researchers covering the bill's provisions, background, and legislative history.

The bill is widely referred to as the 'Hillsborough Law'. It fulfils the Labour Party's manifesto promise to create a legal framework ensuring public officials are honest and transparent.

Debate on the duty of candour for public authorities and legal representation for bereaved families

Why linked: Commons Debate Pack CDP-2025-0171 supporting the Westminster Hall debate on the Hillsborough Law.

Type: Commons Debate Pack (CDP-2025-0171) MPs will debate the proposed "Hillsborough Law", which campaigners have argued should introduce a duty of candour for civil servants and improve legal support for bereaved families.

Findings of the call for evidence on the statutory duty of candour

Why linked: DHSC findings of the call for evidence on the statutory duty of candour for health and social care providers — directly adjacent to the Bill's organisational duty and the NHS-manager workstream.

A report analysing responses to the call for evidence on the statutory duty of candour for health and social care providers in England, launched in April 2024.

Third Report - Human rights and the proposal for a “Hillsborough Law”

Why linked: JCHR Third Report — Human rights and the proposal for a Hillsborough Law (pre-bill scrutiny report).

JCHR Third Report — Human rights and the proposal for a Hillsborough Law (pre-bill scrutiny report).

JCHR inquiry news page — Committees — UK Parliament

Why linked: JCHR inquiry news page on the Hillsborough Law inquiry (companion to events pk=56259-56260).

The JCHR will consider the ways in which human rights are engaged by current processes for conducting public inquiries and coronial inquests, with a focus on the lessons of the Hillsborough inquiry.