Andy Burnham will today call on Theresa May to support the introduction of a Hillsborough law to ensure the tragedy is a “watershed moment” for justice in Britain.
The shadow Home Secretary, who has recently announced his intention to stand for mayor of Manchester, will request support for parity of funding for legal representation for bereaved families, and the second stage of the Leveson Inquiry – looking at the relationship between the police and press.
Mr Burnham, who has campaigned for many years on behalf of the families of the 96 football fans who died in the Hillsborough disaster, will ask MPs of all political parties to back major reforms to the policing and criminal justice system.
The Labour party will urge the government to support a raft of amendments, including a Hillsborough Law to re-balance inquests, as the Policing and Crime Bill returns to the Commons.
In April the Hillsborough inquest into the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield’s Wednesday ground ruled that the 96 victims were unlawfully killed.
“The 27-year struggle of the Hillsborough families exposes how the odds are all too frequently stacked against ordinary families seeking truth and justice,” Mr Burnham said.
The Labour frontbencher added: “Hillsborough must mark a moment of real change when Parliament rebalances the police and criminal justice system and puts more power in the hands of ordinary people.
“Never again should any bereaved families have to fight like the Hillsborough families have had to fight.
“We must call time on the uneven playing field at inquests where public bodies spend public money like water on hiring the best lawyers when ordinary families have to scratch around for whatever they can get.”
Mr Burnham said if the families had had better legal representation in the early 90s they would have been able to challenge the "cruel 3.15pm cut-off". The shadow Home Secretary added: “Public money should be spent on helping us get to the truth, not on protecting backs in the public sector.
“The Government made a clear commitment to victims of press intrusion and Parliament cannot let them renege on it.
“We need a full and thorough consideration of the relationship between press and police as recommended by Lord Leveson.
“After the Hillsborough verdict, Parliament has an unprecedented moment where it can act to rebalance the country in favour of ordinary families.
“I am calling on MPs on all sides to make Hillsborough a watershed moment for justice in Britain."
