THE Hillsborough Law will be passed in its current strong form and not watered down, Justice Secretary David Lammy insisted today ahead of its second reading in Parliament on Monday.

Formally known as Public Office (Accountability) Bill, it is intended to make sure authorities will face criminal sanctions if they attempt to cover up the facts behind disasters such as the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy or the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.

Mr Lammy, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said that the “landmark” legislation is for the families and victims of Hillsborough, Grenfell, infected blood “and other British tragedies” who kept going despite “unthinkable loss, cowardly cover-ups and denials of justice.

“We will do everything we can to pass this legislation in its current strong form. We welcome scrutiny that sharpens the Bill — but we will not allow the principles that give the Hillsborough Law its meaning and purpose to be watered down.”

Police failures led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans in a crush at the FA Cup semi-final at the Sheffield football ground.

The Bill was eventually introduced in the Commons in September: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had vowed to bring it before Parliament by the 36th anniversary of the tragedy, on April 15.

Downing Street said that more time was needed to redraft it amid concerns among some campaigners that the Bill’s contents had been diluted and would not include a legal duty of candour.

Victims have previously told how they were “left with no transparency, no truth” only “justice cover-ups and a system that closes ranks and protects those who we should trust — ordinary people that are thrown into an alien system designed to shield the state from scrutiny and accountability.”

Supporters of a duty of candour for public officials include victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people, and the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, which saw hundreds of people wrongfully prosecuted and convicted.

The Bill promises a major expansion of legal aid for bereaved families, with non-means-tested help and support for inquests.

There will also be a new offence of misleading the public, with criminal sanctions for the most serious breaches.