Families and individuals impacted by the Hillsborough disaster were let down to an “almost inhuman level,” according to Keir Starmer’s statement to Members of Parliament. Starmer presented the long-awaited Hillsborough Bill, aiming to deliver justice for the 97 football supporters who lost their lives in the tragic event of 1989. The Prime Minister assured that the proposed legislation would not be diluted, emphasizing its significance.
The bill will establish a legal obligation of honesty for all public officials, including law enforcement officers, with severe penalties for dishonesty or withholding information. It will also address the unequal legal battles by expanding access to legal assistance.
Addressing the Commons, Starmer acknowledged the failure of the British state to support the Hillsborough families and victims adequately. He highlighted that the disaster was not a mere accident but rather a severe injustice compounded by years of mistreatment and cover-ups by the authorities. The long-standing struggle of the families affected by the Hillsborough tragedy has been marked by injustices and false accusations against the victims.
Starmer pointed out that similar failings have been observed in subsequent incidents such as the Horizon scandal, Grenfell Tower fire, contaminated blood issue, Windrush scandal, and grooming gang cases. The Prime Minister acknowledged a recurring pattern where the British state struggles to address injustices, particularly affecting working-class, black, and female victims, a trend that the proposed bill aims to rectify.
It wasn’t until 2016 that the initial inquest findings were overturned, declaring the deaths as unlawful killings. An independent inquiry conducted four years earlier attributed the disaster to a lack of police control and identified failures in crowd safety measures. The report also concluded that better coordination among emergency services could have saved 41 lives.
Despite failed attempts to hold accountable those responsible through court proceedings, a report by Bishop James Jones of Liverpool revealed systemic flaws rooted in “the patronizing disposition of unaccountable power.”