Hillsborough Law not expected to return to Parliament before summer break
It's another u-turn from the government on the major law
Last updated 10th Jul 2026
The Government has rowed back on the Hillsborough law returning to Parliament before the summer.
Despite David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister, saying on Wednesday that he was “confident” the draft legislation would be back “in the coming days”, it is no longer expected to appear before the House of Commons rises for recess next week.
Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell instead told MPs on Thursday that he hopes it will be back “soon”.
The law, formally known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, will require public officials to tell the truth during inquiries and investigations. It was promised by Labour in its 2024 manifesto but has faced lengthy delays.
Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrats’ chief whip, told the Commons she was “disappointed” that Mr Lammy’s comments “were not accurate”.
Responding, Sir Alan said: “I don’t believe that the Deputy Prime Minister did say something which was inaccurate, because we are doing all we can to get the Hillsborough Bill across the line.
“If that means that we can bring it sooner rather than later, then that will be our intention.”
The law takes its name from the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 when 97 Liverpool fans were killed at the football stadium in Sheffield in a crush during an FA Cup semi-final match.
It was found afterwards that key public servants, including the police, had not told the truth about the decisions taken leading up to the fatal crush at the Leppings Lane end of the ground.
Both Sir Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham – who is expected to be Labour’s next leader – have previously spoken of their support for the Bill.