Hillsborough anniversary 'tainted' by lack of Hillsborough Law
Today marks 36 years since the disaster
Last updated 15th Apr 2025
The Prime Minister is being accused of tainting this year's anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, after failing to live up to his promise of introducing a Hillsborough Law by today.
It is now 36 years to the day since 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives in a crush at Hillsborough in Sheffield.
Sir Keir Starmer said last year, in his first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister in Liverpool, that the law would be introduced to parliament before the next anniversary on 15 April 2025.
However, Downing Street said yesterday (14 April) that more time is needed to create the 'best version' of the legislation.
The law includes a duty of candour on public bodies to tell the truth and proactively co-operate with official investigations and inquiries.
Charlotte Hennessey, who lost her dad Jimmy in the disaster, said:
"I feel that this year's anniversary has been tainted by a man who pledged a Hillsborough Law to gain himself votes.
"I'm actually quite angry about that at the moment. I feel like Keir Starmer used this year's anniversary and gave us a bit of light at the end of the tunnel in terms of pledging a Hillsborough Law that would be here and fulfilled and passed in time for the anniversary.
"It's something we talked about as a family - how amazing it would be to have the 36th anniversary and all be able to stand together and know that a Hillsborough Law has been passed and that is an amazing legacy for the 97, but it's something else that Keir Starmer went back on.
"So for me, the anniversary is tainted for that very reason."