Margaret Aspinall, a leading campaigner for justice for the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, delivered a significant speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool today. She introduced Prime Minister Keir Starmer before his keynote address, using the platform to explain the profound importance of the newly introduced Hillsborough Law.
Ms Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James was one of the 97 Liverpool fans unlawfully killed in 1989, has been a central figure in the decades-long fight for truth and accountability. Her address at the Liverpool Exhibition Centre was met with a standing ovation.
Key Takeaways
- Margaret Aspinall introduced Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.
- Her speech focused on the necessity of the new Hillsborough Law, which was recently introduced in Parliament.
- The law establishes a legal "duty of candour" for public officials, making it a criminal offence to conceal information.
- It also ensures families receive equal legal funding to public bodies during inquests and inquiries.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to the law, stating it will ensure "injustice has no place to hide."
A Decades-Long Fight for Accountability
Margaret Aspinall has campaigned for over 30 years following the death of her son, James, at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. On stage in Liverpool, she spoke directly about her personal experience and the broader struggle for justice that has defined her life.
"I lost my 18-year-old son at Hillsborough and I'm here to explain why a Hillsborough Law is so important," she began. Ms Aspinall described a system that has historically failed ordinary people, not just in the case of Hillsborough but in numerous other national tragedies.
"Cover-ups have been going on for centuries, for decades. It's been going on pre-Hillsborough, since Hillsborough - even to this day."
She spoke of her desire to leave a lasting legacy that prevents other families from enduring similar ordeals. "I want to die knowing that we’ve changed a part of history," she stated. "We’ve changed a law that was so corrupt, so wrong, for many people and we are determined to do that."
The Core Principles of the Hillsborough Law
The new legislation, officially titled the Public Advocate and Public Authorities (Accountability) Bill, was formally laid in the House of Commons earlier this month. Ms Aspinall explained its key components to the conference attendees, emphasizing how it aims to rebalance the justice system.
What is the Hillsborough Law?
The law is a package of reforms designed to create a more transparent and equitable justice system for victims of public disasters. It is based on the recommendations of a 2017 report by former Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones. The two central pillars are a legal duty of candour for public servants and parity of legal funding for bereaved families.
A Duty of Candour
A central element of the law is a legally binding duty of candour. This requires all public officials and authorities to act with honesty and transparency during official investigations and inquiries. Ms Aspinall stressed that this provision will introduce real consequences for dishonesty.
"What this law is about, this will make - no matter what job you are, no matter what rank you are, there are consequences if you tell lies. There are consequences," she explained. This measure is intended to prevent the institutional defensiveness and concealment that plagued the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster for years.
Equal Legal Representation
Another critical aspect of the bill is the reform of legal aid. For decades, families of victims have faced state-funded legal teams representing police forces and other public bodies, while they themselves had to crowdfund or rely on pro bono support. The new law provides bereaved families with the same level of funded legal representation as public organisations.
"That law will change things for the good of the nation. But also make it a level playing field for the ordinary people," Ms Aspinall said. "If they get paid by the state, the ordinary people get the same. Simple. Simple. Simple."
The 1989 Disaster: The Hillsborough disaster resulted in the deaths of 97 men, women, and children. In 2016, an inquest jury concluded they were unlawfully killed, finding that failures by the police and ambulance services contributed to their deaths.
Prime Minister Pledges State Accountability
After being introduced by Ms Aspinall, Prime Minister Keir Starmer began his keynote speech by paying tribute to her and the other Hillsborough families. He framed the new law as a fundamental shift in the relationship between the state and its citizens.
"This party was founded to hear working-class people like that, to look directly into the eyes of their suffering, even when the state turns its back," he told the conference.
He acknowledged that the issues of state secrecy and institutional failure extended far beyond Hillsborough, referencing other campaigns for justice.
"The Hillsborough Law, it’s not just a promise delivered, it’s also a recognition that whether it’s Hillsborough, Grenfell, Windrush, Horizon, the grooming gangs, infected blood and more, the British state has consistently refused to see injustice because of who the victims are."
Sir Keir added that these injustices often occurred because the victims were from working-class backgrounds, were Black, or were women and girls. He concluded with a direct promise to the families and the nation.
"I can never undo the pain for you and all the other families," he said, addressing Ms Aspinall, "but we can show that in the Britain we are building, the state will see, the state will listen, the state will be accountable to working people, because now injustice has no place to hide.”
A Legacy for the Future
In her speech, Ms Aspinall expressed hope that the law would serve as a safeguard for future generations, though she wished it would never be needed. "This law will help so many people in the future. I hope nobody needs it, I pray nobody needs it, but if they do, this law will help those people," she said.
She recounted the immense burden placed on the Hillsborough families, who had to fight for decades not only against institutions but also against media narratives. "They will never have to go away from here, campaign for truth, campaign for justice, campaign against the media. We’ve had to do all of that and that is so wrong."
Her powerful reminder of the human cost of the disaster and the subsequent cover-up resonated deeply with the audience. "97 people were unlawfully killed and the perpetrators walked away scot-free. How can that be in 2025? How can that happen?" The speech concluded with a huge round of applause, acknowledging her tireless dedication to achieving justice and systemic change.