Families and individuals affected by the Hillsborough disaster were let down to an extreme degree, according to Keir Starmer in his address to Members of Parliament. Launching the long-awaited Hillsborough Bill, Starmer emphasized that it would serve as a lasting symbol of justice for the 97 football supporters who lost their lives in the tragic incident of 1989. The Prime Minister assured the bereaved families that the integrity of the Bill would remain intact.
The proposed legislation aims to establish a legal obligation of transparency for all public officials, including law enforcement officers, with severe penalties for dishonesty or the withholding of information. It also seeks to address the unequal legal battles faced by victims and their families by expanding access to legal assistance.
In his parliamentary speech, Starmer acknowledged that the British state had severely let down the Hillsborough families and victims, describing the disaster as not merely a chance occurrence but a grave injustice compounded by subsequent mistreatment at the hands of authorities. He criticized the cover-up orchestrated by institutions meant to protect citizens, labeling it a shameful chapter in the nation’s history.
The prolonged struggle for justice by the families of those who perished in the Hillsborough crush, wrongly attributed to Liverpool fans during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, is part of a broader pattern of systemic failings in similar cases, as highlighted by Starmer. The Prime Minister acknowledged a recurring theme of the state’s failure to address injustices, particularly affecting marginalized groups.
It was not until 2016 that the initial inquest findings were overturned, leading to the recognition of unlawful killings. A previous independent inquiry had identified police mismanagement as the primary cause of the disaster, with critical failures in crowd safety protocols. The inquiry also revealed that improved emergency response coordination could have saved the lives of 41 individuals.
Although subsequent legal proceedings did not result in convictions, a report by Bishop James Jones of Liverpool attributed the systemic failures to a culture of unchecked authority. The Hillsborough Bill aims to rectify these injustices and address the persistent lack of accountability in similar tragedies.