00:00Lord David Blunkett has told the House of Lords he deeply regrets not doing more for Hillsborough families after the
00:07disaster.
00:07He was speaking as peers considered the public office accountability bill known as the Hillsborough Law.
00:13The 1989 disaster at Hillsborough Stadium killed 97 football fans in a crush during the FA Cup semi-final.
00:21Lord Blunkett was the MP for the Sheffield area where the stadium's located.
00:25He said MPs were given entirely wrong briefings by police.
00:28Lord Blunkett said the time taken to bring the bill forward could have been shortened enormously if politicians had taken
00:35more responsibility after the disaster.
00:38He praised families for their tenacity and commitment to bringing about change.
00:42The proposed legislation would create a legally enforceable duty of candour that would require public officials and authorities to act
00:50transparently during investigations and inquiries.
00:53The bill was a Labour manifesto commitment and was originally due to be delivered on the 36th anniversary.
00:58It later stalled over concerns from campaigners about its application to intelligence agencies.
01:04Amendments made in July brought spies within the proposed duty of candour.
01:08While providing a secure process for information, Lord Blunkett also paid tribute to Sir Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham for
01:15pushing the bill forward.
01:16Lord Blunkett said he deeply regretted his own actions and inaction as a cabinet minister,
01:21while recognising the determination of those who continued to fight.
01:24He said the false briefings given on the day remain a stain on South Yorkshire police.
