00:01They've campaigned determinately for decades, and today there was new hope for the families
00:06of the Hillsborough victims.
00:08They met the Prime Minister in Downing Street this morning, as the government unveiled new
00:12legislation forcing public officials to tell the truth during investigations into major
00:18disasters.
00:19With your support, we've got to this day, and it's a really important day for the 97,
00:26for you, for families, for communities.
00:29The Public Office Accountability Bill, to be known as the Hillsborough Law, will be introduced
00:34to Parliament today.
00:36It's intended to ensure authorities face criminal sanctions if they attempt to cover up the
00:42facts behind disasters such as the 1989 Hillsborough Tragedy, where 97 football fans lost their
00:48lives.
00:49It took a long, long time to get where we are today, but has it been worth it, and would
00:54I do it again?
00:55Absolutely, because it's not about the Hillsborough families.
01:00This is no good to us.
01:02What I've said about was the ordinary people of this country, that they'll never go through
01:08what we've had to go through.
01:10The bill will establish a legal duty of candour, meaning public officials must act with honesty,
01:16integrity and accountability.
01:19It will expand legal aid for bereaved families, with non-means-tested help and support for inquests.
01:25There will also be a new criminal offence for misleading the public.
01:30The government says the new legislation will end the culture of cover-ups, and learn lessons
01:35from wider disasters, including the post office horizon and infected blood scandals and the
01:41Grenfell Tower fire.
01:42Those people can be properly supported, that public officials are held to account, that they
01:49cannot mislead the public, they have to be frank, open and honest and not defensive,
01:54and that those families are properly, legally supported.
01:58Sir Keir Starmer had previously pledged to bring in the law by the 36th anniversary of
02:03the tragedy, on the 15th of April this year.
02:06But Downing Street then said more time was needed to redraft it.
02:11The bill will now pass through multiple stages in both the House of Commons and the House of
02:15Lords.
02:16Campaigners expect, and hope, the bill to become law by next spring at the earliest.
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