Andy Burnham makes dramatic comeback as fiery Commons clash erupts over Hillsborough.VA
The Prime Minister-in-waiting made an impassioned speech, praising the man he ousted, Sir Keir Starmer, for driving through new legislation
Andy Burnham praised Sir Keir Starmer for his work on the long-delayed Hillsborough law as MPs approved new legislation to prevent cover-ups linked to failures of the state. It imposes a duty on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively co-operate with official investigations and inquiries.
The legislation has been delayed by wrangling over how the duty applies to the intelligence services, with ministers recently breaking the deadlock with further changes. The bill’s approval comes in Sir Keir’s final days as prime minister with Mr Burnham succeeding him on Monday. Speaking in the Commons for the first time since his election as Labour MP for Makerfield, the Prime Minister-in-waiting said the legislation will “change the way this country thinks and works about justice”.
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Directing his words at the man he ousted in a coup d’état, Mr Burnham said: “It feels fitting to be here tonight, and particularly to be with my right honourable friend, the Prime Minister.
“Because I remember very clearly at the conclusion of the second Hillsborough inquest, how he worked with me as part of the shadow health team back then to draft the original bill that was presented to Parliament, and tonight is before this this House.
“It does feel tonight like life is coming full circle, and as we pass this momentous piece of legislation – a piece of legislation that will change the way this country thinks and works about justice – it truly is a rewiring of the state and a passing of power from the authorities to the hands of ordinary people.
“And it is happening because of the Prime Minister’s commitment to a country based on justice and fairness, and we thank him for that.”
The law takes its name from the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which claimed 97 lives after a crush during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground.
Police leaders were found to have spread false narratives about the disaster, blaming Liverpool fans, and withheld evidence of their own failings.
The legislation, which also commits to providing legal aid for victims of disasters or state-related deaths, was a pledge in Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto.
Sir Keir had promised to pass the bill by 15 April 2025, to mark the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
But this deadline was missed and the government abandoned a final debate in January following a backlash from campaigners and some Labour MPs.
This came after a government amendment would have made co-operation with inquiries by intelligence officers subject to the approval of the head of their service.
Bereaved families said MI5 and MI6 officers should be fully subject to the proposed law and pointed to a series of cases where MI5 has provided false information, including the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
Earlier, Sir Keir said he “made a promise” to families to bring forward the Hillsborough Law “as soon as I could” after facing criticism from shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan.
He added: “I just want to record that these families, and families across the country affected by this Bill, have waited years and years too long. Years too long.
“I made a promise to these families, looked them in the eye, and said I would bring this forward as soon as I could. And I’ve kept that promise, and I’m proud that this Labour government is bringing this Bill in.”
