Jeremy Hunt: Contaminated Blood Scandal a ‘huge failling of democracy’
The former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has today told a public inquiry that state-run institutions can ‘sometimes close ranks around a lie’ - something that the activists and families at Hillsborough Law Now have long said.
The acknowledgement that publicly-run institutions are prone to deception in acts of self defense, and the fact that this behaviour is not yet criminalised, is precisely why we need a Hillsborough Law Now - a bill that would:
Create a new legal duty of candour on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively cooperate with official investigations and inquiries - bringing to an end the depressingly familiar pattern of cover ups and concealment.
Ensure victims of disasters or state-related deaths are entitled to parity of legal representation during inquests and inquiries. This will mean that bereaved families can get legal aid, just as public money is used to support QC’s.