Andy Burnham (Labour) praised Sir Keir Starmer during his first speech in the House of Commons after being elected as the MP for Makerfield [1].
The speech marks a significant moment of alignment between the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Labour leadership regarding public accountability and the legal obligations of state institutions.
Burnham said he supported the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which is widely known as the Hillsborough Law [1]. The legislation creates a legal duty for public bodies to tell the truth and cooperate with investigations [2]. This measure is designed to prevent the institutional cover-ups that often follow large-scale public failures.
During the proceedings, Burnham said Starmer showed commitment to the families of the victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster [2]. The disaster resulted in the unlawful killing of 97 people [2].
Burnham referred to Starmer as his friend during the address [1]. The endorsement comes as the government seeks to ensure that public officials are held to a higher standard of transparency when errors or negligence lead to loss of life.
The Makerfield by-election took place on July 20, 2026 [3], leading to Burnham's return to the Commons. His focus on the Hillsborough Law reflects a long-standing effort to secure justice for the victims and their families through legislative change.
By backing the bill, Burnham is linking the specific tragedy of the 1989 event to a broader systemic need for honesty in governance [2]. The law aims to ensure that the pursuit of truth is not obstructed by bureaucratic interests, a recurring theme in the decades of litigation following the disaster.
“Burnham praised his 'friend' Keir Starmer in his Commons speech”
The passage of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill represents a shift in UK administrative law by potentially making 'truth-telling' a statutory duty for public officials. By leveraging the legacy of the Hillsborough disaster, the government is attempting to institutionalize transparency, moving away from a system where public bodies can avoid accountability through legal technicalities or silence.
