Keir Starmer faces renewed call to pass Hillsborough Law amid Mandelson scandal
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey told MPs "there should be no more delays" in creating a duty of candour in law.
Sir Keir Starmer has faced renewed calls to get a Hillsborough Law on the statute books.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey told MPs "there should be no more delays" in creating a duty of candour in law.
The Labour Government has proposed a duty of candour as part of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, to meet a manifesto pledge.
But its progress through Parliament has stalled amid a row over whether people in organisations such as MI5 and MI6 would be subject to the same duties as other public servants.
"I think the whole House will agree that the (Peter) Mandelson scandal has shown yet again why we need a duty of candour for anyone and everyone in public office," Sir Ed told the Commons at Prime Minister's Questions.
"There should be no more delays in putting the Hillsborough Law on the statute books, after the long fight by the bereaved families and so many others like the Mayor of Greater Manchester (Andy Burnham).
"The Prime Minister once said it would be one of the first things he did in No 10.
"Will he finally do it now, even if it's the last thing he does?"
Prime Minister Sir Keir replied that Sir Ed's party "could have passed this law a long time ago and saved a lot of grief", when the Lib Dems and Conservatives were in government together between 2010 and 2015.
"I'm proud that this Labour Government is bringing in a Hillsborough Law, something I've committed to for a very, very long time," he added.
The proposal takes its name from the Hillsborough disaster after which families campaigned for years to get to the truth behind what caused the crush which led to the death of 97 football fans at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in 1989.
It would create a duty for public authorities and public officials to always act "with candour, transparency and frankness in their dealings with inquiries and investigations", and to flag information to inquiry and investigation leaders, if they think it is relevant.
Ian Byrne, the Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, last month said Bill supporters and the Government were "not in the same position" about how new duties would apply to intelligence officials.
He said he hoped the Government would "reflect on the amendments that we have laid down to ensure that a duty of candour applies to every public servant, including the security services, without impinging in any way, shape or form on national security".
The Bill is yet to clear the Commons and faces further scrutiny in both Houses of Parliament at a later date.