Hillsborough Law 'fails to address media's role' in disaster, MPs say
MPs have been debating a law which will force public officials and contractors to tell the truth in the aftermath of disasters
The Hillsborough Law fails to address the role the media played in covering up the disaster, MPs have said.
Members debating the so-called Hillsborough Law - the Public Office (Accountability) Bill - which will force public officials and contractors to tell the truth in the aftermath of disasters, have criticised the Bill for failing to cover the role the press played in the tragedy.
However, justice minister Alex Davies-Jones insisted the issue of the media was "out of scope" for the Bill.
The Commons debate was watched by families of victims who have campaigned for the truth behind what caused the death of 97 football fans as a result of a crush at the FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield in 1989.
The disaster occurred in the early stages of the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
Addressing the Commons on Monday, Paula Barker, the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, called for the Prime Minister to make the second stage of a public inquiry into the media "a reality".
The Leveson inquiry - which was set up to look into the practices of the British press following the phone hacking scandal - was due to have a second stage to examine the media's relationship with the police. However, it was dropped by the Conservative government in 2018.
Labour's Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, has previously confirmed Leveson Two has been ruled out by the Labour Government.
Ms Barker said: "Justice won't be done until The Sun too is made to answer for its abuses.
"The Prime Minister promised us that he would see this through. It's time for him to deliver the justice he promised.
"To build on today's vital achievement by making Leveson a reality and ensure the media is held to account for its role in state failures and cover-ups."
She said The Sun played a "key role" in covering up the disaster by spreading lies about what happened and hiding the truth.
Labour's former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: "I remain angry about The Sun.
"I remain bitterly angry about their role and what they did, and we were promised Leveson part two, and we've dropped it. I don't think there's any justification.
He added: "Maybe the Government will reconsider. We'll have Leveson part two, and we'll have more legislation that prevents the role of The Sun."
Labour former equalities minister Dame Nia Griffith said: "We should be addressing the fact that there is no duty of candour for the media. For 36 years, The Sun has escaped all accountability for its contribution to the cover-up.
"Even today, there are no independently enforced standards for the press, which would end parts of the media's ability to conspire with authorities to mislead the public.
"The fact is that (Independent Press Standards Office) falls well short of Leveson part one's requirements for independent and robust press regulation. As a result, there is nothing to prevent a cover-up perpetrated by the press from happening again today.
"So whilst I congratulate the Prime Minister and my colleagues in Government on today's Bill, I would urge them to heed the call that Margaret Aspinall is making today, to introduce further legislation to make good on Leveson Two, bring in tougher regulation of the press and stop certain elements of the press from destroying innocent people's lives."
Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Jess Brown-Fuller said there was a concern across the House that there was a "lack of redress" regarding the media.
"Much more needs to be done to strengthen accountability, transparency and openness, including within social media companies."
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said: "A number of members, again, raised the issue of the media, now they will know that is out of scope of this Bill.
"This Bill ... provides a duty of candour on public authorities and on public servants.
"Now, where there is a public service broadcaster, we would, of course, ensure that ... the public service broadcasters operate within what they are permitted.
"However, I think it is important to note that from when the calls for Leveson and Leveson Two were introduced, the media landscape has drastically and dramatically moved on. The public do not consume media in the same way anymore."