Margaret Aspinall's plea to PM over Hillsborough law

The mother of one of the 97 victims of the Hillsborough disaster has called on Sir Keir Starmer to "not take too long in doing the right thing" over a Hillsborough law.

Sir Keir had previously promised to pass a bill by 15 April, the 36th anniversary of the disaster, but Downing Street confirmed on Monday "more time" was needed to pass the "best version" of the legislation.

Margaret Aspinall, who lost her 18-year-old son James at Hillsborough, said a "watered down" version of the law would be "no use" and it must be introduced "in all its entirety".

The Hillsborough Law would force public bodies to co-operate with investigations into major disasters or potentially face criminal sanctions.

Ms Aspinall said: "I'm pleased to hear that he's going to do the best version, but the best version for me is it's got to be all in its entirety.

"It's no use watering it down in any way, shape, or form otherwise it would never be a Hillsborough Law."

Last month, rumblings about changes to the proposed bill culminated with the prime minister cancelling a meeting with the Hillsborough families.

Campaigners expressed concerns that officials had amended the bill to water down potential sanctions for officials.

Ms Aspinall said the law needed to impose a duty of candour on individuals and not simply public bodies, as well as proper legal funding for families of victims of state deaths to achieve "parity of arms".

"We had to go out campaigning for funding from the ordinary public, which was an absolute disgrace to help us fight such an injustice that we had," she said.

It was not until 2016 that an inquest jury concluded the 97 victims were unlawfully killed in the stadium crush at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium amid a number of police errors.

Ms Aspinall said she had "not had time" to have any feelings about the anniversary because she was still forced, along with many others, to campaign for change.

"Each year that passes by there's always something going on about Hillsborough, because lessons have never been learned," she said.

Ms Aspinall added: "You only have to look at the Post Office scandal, Grenfell, contaminated blood, I can name so many things that there's been an injustice."

She said it was important for the law to represent a "legacy" for the 97, as well as the survivors who were "still suffering" from the trauma of that day.

"I have always said we have try to make something good out of something so tragic," she said.

The prime minister's spokesman paid tribute to the Hillsborough families, and said: "We are determined to enshrine their profound legacy as we work to introduce a Hillsborough Law that will deliver the justice they deserve."

Pressed on a timetable for bringing forward a bill, he said: "Having consulted with groups over recent weeks and months, we believe more time is needed to draft the best version of a Hillsborough Law.

"But we remain fully committed to bringing this legislation at pace, and we'll obviously continue to work with them in the weeks ahead and provide an update when we've got it."

Writing on X to mark the 36th anniversary of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, Sir Keir said: "Thirty-six years ago, we saw one of the greatest disasters in our history.

"A disaster that led to 97 people tragically losing their lives. Today, I pay tribute to them. In the years since, their families and loved ones have campaigned tirelessly to get justice.

"Despite all the challenges they have faced, they have kept fighting. I promised to bring a Hillsborough Law before Parliament, with a legal duty of candour for public authorities and public servants, and criminal sanctions for anyone who fails to comply. I will deliver on that promise.

"After decades of injustice, we must get this legislation right. We must make sure it achieves what the people of Liverpool have spent the past thirty-six years fighting for.

"Standing firmly at the side of Hillsborough families, this is what my government will deliver."

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