New Hillsborough law backed by Labor ahead of party conference in Liverpool

Keir Starmer has said passing legislation making public authorities more accountable will be a 'priority' under a Labor government

Liverpool fans pay tribute to the 97 people who died in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 (

Image: Reuters)

A new Hillsborough Act to hold public authorities accountable following tragedies will be introduced under Labor, Keir Starmer has announced.

The party leader has backed new legislation – also known as the Public Authorities (Accountability) Bill – ahead of Labor's conference in Liverpool from Sunday.

Activists, including the families of the 97 people who died in the 1989 disaster, have long called for new laws and regulations to prevent future injustices where the state is involved.

Supporters say the laws will compel authorities, such as police forces, to cooperate with official investigations and give victims and their families the right to legal aid.

Mr. Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, told the Liverpool Echo it would be a 'priority' if Labor were elected.

Keir Starmer said a Hillsborough law would be a "top priority" under the Labor Party (

Picture:

PENNSYLVANIA)

As part of the legislation, Labor will introduce:

A duty of candor: ensuring that authorities and public officials proactively cooperate with official investigations - to provide the transparency and accountability they need to succeed Legal aid: to entitle victims of disasters or state-related deaths to parity of legal representation during investigations and investigations, i.e. they are paid for lawyers, putting them on an equal footing with the public bodies that are represented An independent public advocate: to act as...