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Metro Mayor demands the
Government end cover up culture
METRO Mayor Steve Rotheram has called
on the Prime Minister to implement, in full, the proposed Public Authorities
(Accountabilities) Bill, also known as:- 'the Hillsborough Law.'
The Bill, if passed, would compel those in Public Office to act with candour and
in a way that is truthful when responding to investigations into their conduct.
The Bill would introduce the option of punishment by prison sentence for those
who lie or try to hide the truth.
The Bill was brought before Parliament, on 29 March 2017, by the Rt Hon Andy
Burnham and was approved at 1st reading. Mayor Rotheram was 1 of the Bill's
12 sponsors. It was due to have its 2nd reading on 12 May 2017, however due
to the announcement of the 2017 General Election, the Bill fell following the
dissolution of Parliament.
Speaking ahead of the expected release tomorrow of former Bishop James Jones's
report into the experience of the Hillsborough families, Mayor Rotheram said:-
"Today, there is a clear and unambiguous call by HM Opposition, and those
associated with the Hillsborough campaigns for Justice, for implementation of
the Hillsborough Law as an instrument in restoring trust and confidence in our
public institutions. In the 28 years that have passed since the Hillsborough
tragedy, there have been too many occasions where cover up and secrecy have
pervaded our public life when things have gone wrong. Governments of all colours
have been too slow to respond to this culture, which has no place in our modern
democracy. The Prime Minister must commit to the full implementation of the
Hillsborough Law. With enquiries on going into historic child sexual abuse, and
more recently the Grenfell Tower disaster, this law is needed now, just as it
was needed 28 years ago."
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