Richard Burgon MP, Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on the Chief Coroner’s recommendation in his annual report that bereaved families in inquests should have legal representation where the state has agreed to provide separate representation for one or more interested persons, said:

“It is a fundamental principle that the law should be a level playing field and the Chief Coroner is right to support calls that families of the bereaved should have access to the best legal representation and the way to do that is through the legal aid system.

“One of the most valuable lessons out of the recent inquest into the Hillsborough disaster was that justice for the 96 families was only achieved through the full funding of their legal costs. The Government should make clear that this will now be the norm and not the exception.”

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