Sir Keir Starmer has been condemned by several Labour MPs after he pushed to delay a vote on his own flagship legislation designed to avoid a repeat of Hillsborough-style tragedies. The Prime Minister promised he would pass the law by April, the anniversary of the football tragedy.
However, on Friday, Government whips blocked the law from going forward, prompting former shadow chancellor John McDonnell to shout that it was an “absolute disgrace!” Labour MPs, especially those from Liverpool, are becoming increasingly angry over the PM’s broken promise. Ian Byrne shared a clip of Mr McDonnell’s Commons outburst, thanking him for “being in the chamber with me – and for expressing his outrage at the Government’s behaviour”.
Ian Byrne said civil servants are pushing back (Image: Parliament)
He added: “Ultimately, the Prime Minister made a commitment, it was in the manifesto and it is right and proper that I fight for this – I was at Hillsborough.
“The Prime Minister has made promises and ultimately, it is him that will be held accountable.”
He demanded that the PM pull his finger out and introduce the law before Labour’s Liverpool party conference later this year.
Mr McDonnell added: “I made it clear to Labour whips, unless Keir Starmer fulfils his promise of bringing forward the Hillsborough law, Liverpool will never forgive him.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman insisted that the Government is “fully committed to bringing in a Hillsborough law”, which would install a “legal duty of candour for public servants”.
This would mean any cover-ups would be met with the full weight of the law.
According to sources speaking to Sky News, the sections of the Bill relating to “duty of candour” are an “absolute mess”.
The source explained that the proposal has “many loopholes” that could render the duty “useless and ineffective”.
Campaigners have said that the law must be “all or nothing” as concerns grow that the eventual Bill could be watered down.
Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the disaster, said: “After hearing the stories of all the other families fighting for justice, I am more determined than ever to demand that the Hillsborough Law presented to Parliament is all or nothing.”
