A campaigner whose son died in the Hillsborough disaster says she is “over the moon” as a proposed law aimed at preventing official cover-ups is likely to clear the House of Commons this week.
Margaret Aspinall said the law would be a “lovely legacy” for Sir Keir Starmer in his final days in office.
The Hillsborough Law, officially known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, would create a legally enforceable duty of candour which compels public officials and authorities to act transparently when investigations and inquiries take place.
It takes its name from the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 when 97 Liverpool fans were killed at the football stadium in Sheffield in a crush during an FA Cup semi-final match.
Ms Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the disaster, told the Daily Mirror she was “absolutely delighted, over the moon, absolutely made up”.
Commons leader Sir Alan Campbell confirmed that the Bill will be debated on Tuesday, during what is expected to be the Prime Minister’s final week in office.
Ms Aspinall, who chaired the Hillsborough Family Support Group, told the newspaper: “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.”
She continued: “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.”
After the disaster, key public servants, including the police, were found to have not told the truth about the decisions taken leading up to the fatal crush at the Leppings Lane end of the ground.
Both Sir Keir and his likely successor Andy Burnham have expressed support for the law change, but it has been repeatedly delayed over concerns from the security services about how it could impact on spies.
The Government now believes it has reached a point where individual employees and ex-employees of the intelligence services will be covered by a duty of candour, without compromising national security.
This will be set out in amendments to the Bill, due to be debated this week.
Sir Alan told MPs on Monday: “This is an important Bill. We have been signalling for some time that the Bill is coming … but I’ve only been able to confirm it today which is the earliest opportunity.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Hillsborough disaster will remain in our national consciousness for its tragedy and disgraceful injustice.
“Our legislation will right these wrongs, changing the balance of power so the state must always act for the people it’s supposed to serve.
“We have taken the time to get this right, working with families and campaigners to bring in a Bill that’s testament to their decades of campaigning, whilst never compromising on national security.
“It’s a huge achievement that, after months of hard work, we now have a Bill that is ready to be brought back to Parliament.”
Victims’ minister Catherine Atkinson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme “there is no carve-out” for the security services.
“What has been absolutely clear is that there will be a duty of candour, but it’s the way that it is carried out,” she said.
“So, in consultation with the security services, we’ve ensured that there are safeguards so that information that’s provided is done so securely and appropriately.”
The latest amendments to the Bill create a process where intelligence employees send information under the duty of candour to the head of their organisation, who would then be responsible for passing it on to public investigators.
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