Campaigners urge urgent legal aid clarity as Hillsborough Bill nears final stages in parliament
Legal aid must be made available to bereaved families immediately once the proposed Hillsborough Bill becomes law, campaigners have told parliamentarians, warning that delays or uncertainty could undermine the legislation’s core purpose.
The bill, formally known as the Hillsborough Law, is designed to rebalance the relationship between the state and bereaved families following major incidents. Once in force, it will entitle families to non-means-tested legal advice and representation at inquests, inquiries and other investigations involving public authorities. It will also require state bodies to ensure that their spending on legal representation at such proceedings is necessary and proportionate.
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Speaking at a meeting of the all-party parliamentary group on access to justice, Elkan Abrahamson, a director at Broudie Jackson Canter and one of the solicitor architects behind the bill, said he hoped the legislation would complete its passage through parliament in April 2026. However, he cautioned that the bill still required “a lot of fine-tuning”.
Abrahamson, who represented families during the Hillsborough inquests, said there remained uncertainty over when legal aid funding would be triggered. He questioned whether funding would become available at the start of an inquiry or only once an individual was formally designated as a party to proceedings.
He warned that much of the most difficult and complex work for families occurs before an inquiry formally begins. In his view, legal aid should be available from the earliest possible stage to ensure families are not disadvantaged while public bodies prepare their cases.
Abrahamson told the meeting that prompt implementation would be essential once the bill becomes law. He said families should not be left waiting months for the legal aid system to be activated, adding that the government should ensure the new rights take effect immediately.
A Ministry of Justice official attending the session agreed that it was “critically important” for legal aid arrangements to be in place as soon as the legislation is enacted.
The meeting also heard concerns from Cindy Butts, appointed in September as the first independent public advocate to support victims of major incidents. She noted that although the role was born out of the Hillsborough tragedy, the position is not currently referenced in the bill.
Further issues were raised by Leigh Day solicitor Merry Varney, who highlighted the low rates paid under legal aid, with remuneration reported to be as little as eleven pounds an hour. She also pointed out that non-means-tested legal aid would not extend to families seeking to challenge decisions by coroners or the Legal Aid Agency.
During the session, MPs heard directly from bereaved families. One mother described how a barrister represented her family pro bono at a pre-inquest hearing and covered her own travel costs.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy, addressing the group briefly, said the bill reflected the determination of families who had fought for accountability. He said the legislation aimed to ensure that future families would not face the same obstacles in seeking truth and answers.