“All or Nothing”. A report on the Hillsborough Law Family Listening Day (INQUEST, 8 April 2025)

Summary

Families bereaved by state-related deaths and those affected by miscarriages of justice have issued a clear warning to Government following reports that the forthcoming Bill will fail to contain the key elements of Hillsborough Law.

A new report published by INQUEST brings together the powerful voices of bereaved families, victims and survivors of some of the worst failings of public services and the legal system in the UK. This includes those affected by the Hillsborough disaster, Grenfell Tower fire, Post Office Horizon scandal, infected blood scandal and many others. These participants are united in their concerns about the Government’s plans for a Hillsborough Law, which was included in the 2024 King’s Speech.

Content

The testimony featured in this report reflects the emotional and financial toll of families forced to spend years, and in some cases decades, fighting for the truth despite cover-ups, denials and outright lies told by public and private organisations.

The report also shows how the injustice experienced by the bereaved and survivors following the Hillsborough disaster is still a painful reality today.

It is therefore critical, families told INQUEST, that a Hillsborough Law ensures a statutory duty of candour backed up by effective provisions to ensure compliance, and robust sanctions to ensure accountability. This would bring to an end the culture of denial and cover-ups following state failings which currently prevail.

Another key demand of families is for the law to provide for public funding for their legal representation following state failures to ensure equality of arms with public bodies. Under the current system, families are often left without public funding and forced to crowd fund to cover their legal costs, whilst state bodies have legions of lawyers.

Families see Hillsborough Law as a potential watershed moment, one that could redress the power of the state, fulfil the legacy project that Hillsborough families and survivors have fought for, and prevent future deaths and harm.

However, the report makes clear that families and victims fear the Government will change or amend the 2017 Bill and, as such, are demanding that Hillsborough Law be “all or nothing”.

Those involved in this report hope the Government heed their voices and resist attempts to dilute the bill, stressing that any compromise would undermine its vital purpose.