The government has been accused of offering ‘far too little, far too late’ by a regional daily title still fighting on behalf of the Hillsborough stadium victims 35 years after the tragedy.

Liverpool Echo editor Maria Breslin joined reporters Steve Graves and Liam Thorp in producing an in-depth package of print and digital coverage as calls for new laws surrounding major disasters were largely ignored.

A front-page poster image of Liverpool Football Club’s Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield was overlayed with the ‘too little, too late’ headline, and a series of bullet-points guiding readers to four pages of further content inside.

The horrific events of April 15, 1989 at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium, resulted in 97 Liverpool supporters being crushed to death as fans crammed in to watch their FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

The Liverpool Echo front page following the government announcement.

This week, the government finally responded to calls for reform following the experiences of those families who lost loved-ones in the disaster.

While home secretary James Cleverley and prime minister Rishi Sunak did announce the signing of a new Hillsborough Charter, promising change, they stopped short of implementing a full Hillsborough Law which would expand the financial and legal support offered during inquests.

Former Bishop of Liverpool the Rt Rev James Jones initially recommended the move in 2017 as part of 25 proposed changes to ensure bereaved families would never again struggle for support as those have done after Hillsborough.

He also called for police and public bodies to have a ‘duty of candour’ forcing individuals to fully cooperate with investigations into major tragedies, something which again was not fully backed by the government.

Under the headline: ‘Voice of the Echo: Far too little, far too late’, a joint-bylined piece read: “If justice delayed is justice denied, then the Hillsborough families have suffered more than most – a wait approaching 35 years for even this, scant, acknowledgement of failings in how they were treated.

“This government was not responsible for what happened on April 15, 1989, or for the immediate response in its aftermath. But this government could have taken steps to fully ensure the ordeal faced by the families and survivors is never again repeated in this country.

“There are aspects to be welcomed – a duty of candour in policing, requiring officers to speak with openness and transparency on behalf of victims is an important step but one that should go further, and be legally enforceable and apply to all public servants.

“Sadly, the government decided against bringing forward laws to ensure bereaved people have equal public funding for legal representation at inquests and public enquiries into major incidents as that available to public authorities and big companies.

“They had a chance to level the playing field and they missed it.”

The Echo has stood side-by-side with the Hillsborough families throughout their battle to expose the truth of what really happened that day in south Yorkshire.

Initially blamed by police on Liverpool supporters forcing a gate at the rear of the stand, the High Court would later conclude that supporters were unlawfully killed as an independent panel criticised emergency services and senior officers for their actions on the day.

“The treatment of the Hillsborough families over the past 34 years reflects a wider problem in this country of how those with power can treat those without it,” continued the Echo.

“Through their endless resolve and courage the families have helped to expose the fundamental issues in our society that allowed 97 football fans to be unlawfully killed and for the establishment to close ranks and cover up the failures that led to such a tragedy for so long.

“It is to their eternal credit that, even after the last hope of what many would see as real justice for their loved ones was extinguished, the families continued their fight to try and ensure that no one else whose lives are turned upside down by a major disaster will suffer in the same, excruciating way that they did – and for so long.

“Today’s government response means that their fight, sadly, will go on.”