Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Ayoub Khan Excerpts

2nd reading
Monday 3rd November 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

Absolutely. I looked the families in the eye and made that promise, and I meant it. I say it again from this Dispatch Box: this Bill will not be watered down. This is such an important re-orchestrating of the relationship between the state and its citizens. It will not be watered down. I am very pleased to be able to affirm that from this Dispatch Box.

[Ayoub Khan (Birmingham Perry Barr) (Ind)]

Will the Prime Minister give way?

[The Prime Minister]

I will take one more intervention and then I will press on.

[Ayoub Khan]

I thank the Prime Minister for giving way. Does he agree that one of the most powerful lessons from Hillsborough, and indeed from the Grenfell Tower and Post Office scandals, is that truth delayed is justice denied? And does he agree that, while this Bill rightly places a duty of candour upon public authorities, it must also compel Ministers themselves to uphold that same duty when addressing this House, so that accountability begins at the very top? That includes the misleading information that was given from that Dispatch Box by his Minister last week in relation to the hooligan Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.

[The Prime Minister]

I really think that, with the Hillsborough families here in the House with us—