Monday was a momentous day for the Hillsborough families with the announcement in Liverpool of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, which was introduced into Parliament on the same day.

The Hillsborough Law places a new legal duty of candour on public servants to act truthfully and fully support investigations into the state, which should ensure wrongdoing is not concealed and help deliver justice for victims. The Bill replaces the current Misconduct in Public Office offence, a common law standard, with a statutory duty on public servants. Those who fall short of expected standards will face tough sanctions, up to and including time behind bars. The Bill also ensures bereaved families in future disasters will have parity of arms with the public authorities they face, preventing public authorities from having more lawyers to represent them than the families, and also an expansion of legal aid to support them.

I was pleased to see my constituents Jenni Hicks and Hilda Hammond at the announcement alongside other family members of the 97 and representatives from other campaign groups. I was a sponsor of the original bill introduced into Parliament in 2017 and will seek to speak as the Bill proceeds.

I hope that this will form part a lasting legacy for the 97 and will help to ensure that never again will anybody have to endure the 36 years of cover ups, lies and pain that the Hillsborough families have. We also need to take steps to improve the powers and effectiveness of the Independent Public Advocate. The legislation placed on the statute books by the Tories is inadequate and needs to be improved.  I will continue to work to get the best possible legislation through Parliament as the Bill goes forward.