← All promises
Sir Keir StarmerLabour PartyPolice, courts, prisons

Bring in a Hillsborough law

“I am fully committed to introducing a Hillsborough law, including a legal duty of candour for public servants and criminal sanctions for those who refuse to comply.”

In planPrime Minister's Questions, 2 Jul 2025Quote checked word for word at its source on 20 October 2026
  1. In plan

Where it stands

The government's Hillsborough law, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, was introduced in the Commons on 16 September 2025. Its long title puts a duty of candour on public authorities and public officials and creates offences for those who mislead the public. It passed the Commons on 14 July 2026, was carried over into the new session, and was in committee in the House of Lords in October 2026. The promise gives no date. The card moves to Legislated when the Bill becomes law.

What has happened

  1. Jul 2025At Prime Minister's Questions, the Prime Minister says he is fully committed to introducing a Hillsborough law, Promised
  2. Sep 2025The government introduces the Public Office (Accountability) Bill in the House of Commons, In plan evidence

About the cost

No cost was given with the promise.

More detail

Sources (2)
How cards are checked

Status follows the promise standard, the same for every party. A status changes only on evidence. Anyone named on a card can reply, and replies are published next to it. AI Journalist is our automated reviewer: it re-reads every card against its live sources (the quote word for word, dates, evidence, status, cost, neutral wording, legal risk). An editor, Pavel Guzhikov, then checks each card against its sources and approves it.

Every promise in Police, courts, prisons