On Tuesday, April 15, the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster will be commemorated in Liverpool with a minute’s silence, honouring the 97 football fans who lost their lives during the tragic crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield in 1989. As part of the observance, flags on civic buildings will be flown at half-staff, and a ceremonial gathering will take place in Exchange Flags, where the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Richard Kemp, and council leader Liam Robinson will lead the tribute. A bell will toll 97 times, following which an instrumental version of "You’ll Never Walk Alone" will be played.
In the lead-up to the anniversary, campaigners advocating for a Hillsborough Law aimed at preventing cover-ups have expressed frustration over the progress of the legislation. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had previously pledged the introduction of this law prior to the anniversary, which has amplified the urgency for many associated with the long-fought campaign for justice for the Hillsborough victims. However, Downing Street announced that more time is required to draft the optimal version of the legislation, which is anticipated to include a legal duty of candour for public authorities.
Elkan Abrahamson, a solicitor with Broudie Jackson Canter and director of the Hillsborough Law Now campaign, has voiced concerns over the recent developments surrounding the drafting process. He described a recent redraft of the Bill as a “betrayal” of previous governmental commitments, stating, “We remain largely in the dark as to the status of the Bill and the next steps,” and emphasised the need for the new legislation to encompass a comprehensive duty of candour applicable to all public officials.
Further complicating matters, it was reported last month that a meeting between Sir Keir and the campaigners was cancelled amid allegations that government officials sought to dilute the contents of the Bill. Speculation surrounds how the proposed duty of candour would be applied, generating additional uncertainties within the campaign community.
In a statement issued on Monday, a spokesman for the Prime Minister acknowledged the broader consultation with groups over recent weeks and stressed an intention to develop the best version of the Hillsborough Law. “We believe more time is needed to draft the best version of a Hillsborough Law, but we remain fully committed to bringing this legislation at pace,” the spokesman confirmed.
As the community prepares to reflect on the lives lost in the disaster, many families and campaigners are looking for assurances from the government regarding the fulfilment of its commitments. Campaigners have declared plans to reach out to all MPs by the end of the month, as they seek clarity on the timeline and content of the proposed legislation.
The Hillsborough disaster remains a prominent reminder of the fights for truth and accountability, including the revision of the original inquest verdicts in 2012 and subsequent findings in 2016 that concluded the victims were unlawfully killed due to significant police errors. Despite various legal proceedings, including charges against match commander David Duckenfield—who was later acquitted—the quest for justice continues, underscored by recent findings from the Independent Office for Police Conduct that highlighted attempted blame deflection by South Yorkshire Police, despite a lack of substantial grounds for misconduct charges based on the professional standards in effect at the time.
Source: Noah Wire Services