Politics · United Kingdom · 5 hrs ago
Hillsborough Law clears Lords committee stage amid concerns over paramedics
The Hillsborough Law has cleared a key stage in the House of Lords as peers examined the bill in committee.
The proposed law would require public authorities and officials to be transparent during inquiries and investigations.
It is named after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 Liverpool fans died in a crush at a football match in Sheffield.
Former justice minister Baroness Levitt warned that paramedics are excluded from some new offences, including serious improper conduct and failing to prevent death or serious injury.
She said this could leave paramedics beyond prosecution under those offences even in serious cases involving patients.
Justice minister Lord Lemos said frontline healthcare staff were excluded because they serve people in both public and private sectors and their duties are mainly owed to the person they treat.
Peers will vote on amendments at the bill’s report stage before it returns to the House of Commons for approval.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, has completed its committee stage in the House of Lords.
The Bill would create a legally enforceable duty of candour for public authorities and officials during inquiries and investigations.
Peers raised concerns about whether its proposed offences should apply to paramedics and other emergency workers.
Baroness Levitt said paramedics should be covered, while Justice Minister Lord Lemos defended excluding frontline healthcare staff in most cases.
The Bill will next be considered at report stage in the Lords before returning to the Commons for approval.
- Who
- The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, and members of the House of Lords.
- What
- The Bill completed its committee stage, amid debate over whether its offences should apply to paramedics.
- When
- The committee stage was completed on 21 October 2026.
- Where
- House of Lords, United Kingdom.
- Why
- The Bill is intended to require public authorities and officials to act transparently during inquiries and investigations.
Baroness Levitt
Lord Lemos
Coverage of paramedics
Baroness Levitt
Paramedics should be covered by the Bill’s proposed offences, including offences concerning seriously improper conduct and failure to prevent death or serious injury.
Lord Lemos
Frontline healthcare staff should generally remain outside the Bill’s scope unless treating people in state detention.
Reasoning
Baroness Levitt
Emergency responders attend people who may be especially vulnerable, and the exclusions could prevent prosecution in serious cases.
Lord Lemos
Healthcare is provided in both public and private sectors, so covering public-sector staff alone could create an arbitrary distinction and add complexity.
A crush at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield killed 97 Liverpool fans during an FA Cup semi-final.
The Bill completed its committee stage in the House of Lords.
The Bill will be considered at report stage in the Lords, where amendments will be voted on, before returning to the Commons for approval.
- Bill name
- Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law
- Committee stage
- Completed in the House of Lords
- Proposed duty
- A legally enforceable duty of candour for public authorities and officials
- Hillsborough disaster
- 97 Liverpool fans killed in 1989
- Next stage
- Lords report stage, followed by return to the Commons
What people are saying
Yet, paramedics are not included.
Frontline healthcare realms were excluded because healthcare services are delivered across both public and private sectors, and therefore cannot be regarded solely as a core function of government.