'End of the culture of cover-ups'

PM vow to prevent state blocking justice for victims

- BY LIZZY BUCHAN Political Editor

THEIR unimaginable trauma deepened by a relentless battle with a state determined to block any path to justice, Hillsborough families have suffered decades of misery, frustration and helplessness.

But they were last night celebrating a victory that honours the lives of 97 tragic Liverpool fans as a new law was unveiled to end the lies, cover-ups and smears often used as weapons by the establishment to deflect uncomfortable truths and evade accountability.

Public officials now face being hit with criminal penalties for withholding information in the pursuit of justice by victims and relatives.

Hillsborough Law also brings hope for those fighting authorities in other scandals including the Grenfell fire, nuclear test veterans, the Post Office faulty IT system and infected blood.

Keir Starmer said it would end "the culture of obfuscation and cover-up, so public institutions can never again hide from those they are there to serve".

The PM, writing in the Mirror today, added: "This a law for the 97, but it is also a law for the sub-postmasters who suffered because of the Horizon scandal, the victims of infected blood, and those who died in the terrible Grenfell Tower fire.