MP who survived Hillsborough urges new law to avoid more 'tragedy cover-ups'

An MP who survived the Hillsborough disaster says new laws are needed to ensure that the truth about tragedies never takes as long to uncover.

Ian Byrne is backing proposed legislation including the creation of an independent adviser to act on behalf of families bereaved in disasters.

The Labour MP said he hopes the type of “establishment cover-up” that went on after ­Hillsborough would be prevented.

The Liverpool West Derby MP, 17 at the time of the tragedy in 1989, said that when officers ­interviewed him “they had pre-determined their judgments on what happened before the game”.

Ninety-six Liverpool fans died due to a crush.

There has been a 30-year campaign for justice after a jury in 1991 gave a verdict of accidental death.

An independent report in 2012 showed the extent of a South Yorkshire police cover-up to blame Liverpool fans, including falsifying statements.

New inquests in 2016 concluded the 96 were unlawfully killed.

The proposed legislation, the Public Advocate Bill, was introduced in the Commons yesterday by Labour MP Maria Eagle.