Hillsborough Law passes Commons in one of Sir Keir Starmer's final acts as Prime Minister

The legislation cleared the House yesterday after ministers agreed its duty of candour would apply to the intelligence services.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “proud” to bring back the legislation, which aims to prevent cover-ups by requiring officials to be transparent during investigations and inquiries into failures by the state.

The law takes its name from the 1989 disaster at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium, when 97 Liverpool fans were killed in a crush during an FA Cup semi-final match.

Families of those killed were forced to fight a long campaign to get to the truth behind the disaster in the face of obstruction by the authorities.

The Prime Minister will personally steer the legislation through its final Commons stages as he seeks to secure his legacy in the closing days of his premiership.

The legislation, which will still need to go through the House of Lords, was one one of Sir Keir’s key promises.

Sir Keir said the “landmark law” was “a tribute to the incredible families and campaigners who have spent decades and decades fighting to get justice for their loved ones”.

Labour pledged to introduce a Hillsborough Law in its 2024 manifesto, but the legislation – formally known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill – stalled until now.

Sir Keir had promised to bring in the law before the 36th anniversary, earlier this year, but it was delayed over negotiations with the security services.

Ministers amended the Bill to bring spies within the scope of the duty of candour, but with a “secure process” for disclosing information that could affect national security.

Officials said the changes were the result of “months of working around the clock with the families and campaigners”.

Ahead of the debate, Mr Burnham said: “We owe this moment to the Hillsborough families. For 37 years, they refused to accept a lie. They stood firm when powerful institutions closed ranks against them.

“They have shown extraordinary courage, and because they never gave up, they will leave a legacy that reaches far beyond Hillsborough. They are helping to reshape the relationship between the public and the state for generations to come.”

The legislation could come in time for the Leeds Maternity Inquiry, which is set to start this weekend chaired by Donna Ockenden.

A BBC investigation revealed the deaths of at least 56 babies and two mothers over the past five years may have been prevented, while legal firm Irwin Mitchell is representing more than 30 families in action against the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Ms Ockenden has just finished a review into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), which found that around 520 mothers and babies suffered potentially avoidable harm or died due to “deeply embedded systemic failures” at the “toxic” hospital trust.

However, only around half of the trust’s managers gave evidence to the inquiry, and Health Secretary James Murray said the Hillsborough Law would prevent this happening in Leeds.

He told the Commons: “I am making a commitment that, when passed, we will use the Hillsborough Law’s duty of candour to ensure witnesses in upcoming reviews into maternity service failures, including those in Leeds and Sussex, can be forced to provide evidence.

“This change will make sure that no one is able to refuse to cooperate in the search for accountability and justice ever again.”

The Leeds Maternity Families Group paid tribute to the bereaved parents in Nottingham, saying they “are in awe of the strength, resilience and determination shown”.

“The legacy of the Nottingham families’ campaign includes the Hillsborough law being applied to all future reviews, compelling staff both past and present to engage with inquiries.

Brendan Brown, the chief executive at the Leeds NHS trust, said: “We are committed to working openly and constructively with the independent inquiry into maternity care.”