A leading Christian peer and a former Christian MP have welcomed the introduction of the long-awaited Hillsborough Law, which will require public officials to tell the truth during investigations into major disasters.

Lord David Alton of Liverpool told Premier Christian News that he "strongly welcomes the Prime Minister’s intervention" and highlighted the role of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, which he chairs, in calling for the reform.

He said the committee will "continue to press the Government to honour and keep its word".

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, due to be introduced in Parliament, will enshrine a legal duty of candour on public bodies. It will compel honesty and cooperation during inquiries, impose criminal penalties for breaches, and provide legal funding for families.

Ninety-seven Liverpool fans died in the Hillsborough disaster on 15th April 1989.

Hundreds more were injured, while survivors and bereaved families have endured decades of collapsed trials, unanswered questions, and a lack of accountability.

The government says the law also addresses lessons from other tragedies, including the Grenfell Tower fire, the Post Office Horizon scandal, and the infected blood crisis.

Sir Keir said it would "end the culture of cover-ups" and "change the balance of power in Britain so the state can never hide from the people it is supposed to serve".

Alistair Burt, a former Christian MP who also campaigned during the infected blood scandal, said: "We’ve all felt that there was something wrong with the system which allowed situations to go on for so long when there was blatantly a case to be answered."

He added that "it’s right that this had to change".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the persistence of Hillsborough families, saying: "Thank you to the families and campaigners that for years and years and years never gave up on fighting for justice and truth."