'It's painful to still be arguing over Hillsborough Law 37 years on'

A mother whose teenage daughters were killed in the Hillsborough disaster said it was painful to still be arguing over a law designed to prevent cover-ups 37 years on.

Victoria, 15, and Sarah Hicks, 19, were among the 97 Liverpool fans fatally injured on 15 April 1989 at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium.

The families of the bereaved have been campaigning for Hillsborough Law, which will create a "duty of candour" for public authorities to tell the truth and co-operate with disaster inquiries.

Jenni Hicks said: "The sad thing is, we're still arguing about the Hillsborough Law, and it's still not being implemented because of the problems we're told with the security services."

A government spokesperson said the bill would fundamentally change the balance of power to ensure the state always acted for the people it was supposed to serve, which would not have been possible without the families' strength and determination.

Hicks said: "If there are problems, why can't we all get round the table and sort it out instead of it lingering – it's painful and it adds to the distress."

The Home Office has been approached for comment by the BBC.

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill was first promised by Sir Keir Starmer when he was leader of the opposition in 2022.

Although it is referred to as the Hillsborough Law, it is supported by a coalition of survivors and families impacted by other tragedies including the Manchester Arena bombing, Covid, the Grenfell fire, nuclear test veterans, the Horizon Post Office and infected blood scandals, and the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash.

But the bill's progress through Parliament stalled earlier this year over disagreements between the government and campaigners about how the new legal duty of candour should apply to spies "without compromising national security".

Hillsborough families have previously criticised the government over the delayed introduction of the new law.

"It's time to move forward and get on with our lives now," said Hicks.

"But until the Hillsborough Law is settled and implemented that's not going to happen.

"So come on Prime Minister, if there is a problem with this, tell us what the problem is, and let's try and sort it out, because it just can't go on and on and on.

"For a family like me, I lost both my children in the disaster...well, it's just wrong to be quite truthful."

It was reported at the weekend that the prime minister is expected to scrap plans that would have given security services a blanket exemption from a law designed to prevent cover-ups in public life.

Hicks welcomed the report, describing it as a "positive step" but said it was disappointing to read the reports in the media.

"I hope it's true and they are finding a way around this," she said.

"But surely we should be getting some official updates and not depending on the media for updating us - that is so wrong."

Speaking at the start of Prime Minister's Questions earlier, Sir Keir Starmer said: "Today marks 37 years since the Hillsborough disaster, when 97 men, women and children went to a football match and never returned.

"My promise remains, working with families, we will deliver a Hillsborough Law to end the injustice that they have suffered and ensure the state will always act for the people that it serves."

A minute's silence will be held outside Liverpool Town Hall later to mark the 37th anniversary of the tragedy at 15.06 BST – the exact time at which the fateful match was stopped.

Following the silence, a bell will toll 97 times in tribute to each victim, and then an instrumental version of You'll Never Walk Alone will be played.

Liverpool Town Hall will be open to the public from 15:30 to 17:00 to allow people to see a Freedom of the City plaque which is engraved with the names of the 97 fans who lost their lives.

A government spokesperson said: "This week, we commemorate the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster and take time to think about the families and victims who have campaigned for decades for justice.

"The events of that day should never have happened, and the victims and their families have continued to fight for people they'll never know so that no one else has to go through the same injustices as them.

"This Bill will fundamentally change the balance of power so that the State must always act for the people it's supposed to serve, and this would not have been possible without the families' strength and determination."

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