Hillsborough Law clears House of Lords hurdle despite concerns over emergency services
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, has completed committee stage in the House of Lords. It would create a legally enforceable duty for public authorities and officials to act transparently during inquiries and investigations, addressing concerns rooted in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, where 97 Liverpool fans died.
Peers raised concerns that the proposed offences would not cover paramedics in ordinary frontline work. Baroness Levitt argued that this could leave serious misconduct or deliberate failure to prevent death or serious injury beyond the Bill’s reach; Lord Lemos said the exclusion follows a Law Commission review and avoids treating public and private healthcare staff differently. The Lords will consider amendments at report stage before the Bill returns to the Commons.
- The Hillsborough Law has cleared committee stage in the Lords.
- Peers questioned whether paramedics should be covered by its offences.
- The Bill faces further Lords votes before returning to the Commons.