Hillsborough Law draft 'betrays' families - lawyer

One of the lawyers who drafted the proposed Hillsborough Law has described the lack of decisive action so far as a "betrayal" of the families of the victims.

The legislation would demand public authorities and officials tell the truth and co-operate with official investigations and inquiries in the wake of major disasters, or face criminal sanctions.

The first draft of the bill also provided a commitment to legal funding for people facing official bodies.

Elkan Abrahamson, who has represented some of the families and acts as a director of the Hillsborough Law Now Campaign, said the current draft bill does not include any of those pledges.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had pledged to introduce the law before this year's anniversary of the 1989 disaster, which has now passed.

The government said recently that more time is needed to draw up the bill.

The stadium crush during the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.

Mr Abrahamson said of the bill: "We feel it is a betrayal.

"It does not contain a duty of candour which is what the whole idea of the bill is about.

"It also does not contain parity of funding which is the other thing that the bill was about.

"The government are re-thinking it, which is a positive sign.

"But we have no idea what they are going to think when they do re-think."

The lawyer added that he had "no clue" when the government would meet the families or legal teams again.

The prime minister's spokesman said: "Having consulted with groups over recent weeks and months, we believe more time is needed to draft the best version of a Hillsborough Law.

"But we remain fully committed to bringing this legislation at pace, and we'll obviously continue to work with them in the weeks ahead and provide an update when we've got it."

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