The British government has said that it will not hold a public inquiry into the Birmingham pub bombings, despite years of campaigning by families of the victims.
Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis confirmed that an independent investigation would not be established into the 21 November 1974 attacks.
Labour MP for the Birmingham area, Liam Byrne, described it as "deeply disappointing" and said that he has asked Mr Jarvis to meet the victims' families, who set up the Justice4The21 campaign, to explain the decision.
Twenty-one people were killed and around 200 injured when bombs exploded minutes apart in two pubs - Mulberry Bush and Tavern In The Town - in Birmingham city centre, in what remains the worst unsolved terrorist atrocity committed in Britain.
Six Irishmen - Hugh Callaghan, Paddy Hill, Gerry Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, Billy Power and John Walker - were wrongly convicted over the attacks and jailed for life in 1975.
They were freed in 1991 after the Court of Appeal in London ruled that their convictions were unsafe.
Julie Hambleton, whose 18-year-old sister Maxine Hambleton died in the blasts, said that she was "disappointed and outraged" after receiving a two-and-a-half page letter explaining the decision not to hold a public inquiry.
"We feel as though they are in, essence, spitting on the graves of our loved ones. It is a disgraceful way to treat anybody, let alone a group of families whose loved ones were slaughtered in cold blood nearly 51 years ago," she said.
Mr Jarvis said that it was the British government’s "firm belief" that the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery could effectively investigate the case, "offering the best chance to provide answers to Justice4The21’s questions".
He said: "I would like to pay tribute to Justice4The21 for their continued campaigning, which has been both tireless and dignified.
"For over five decades, they have sought truth, justice, and accountability, while also grieving for their loved ones.
"Their unwavering efforts are testament to their remarkable strength, and their continued engagement with the Home Office has been central to our consideration of their request for an inquiry.
"I also recognise the many others that have campaigned on this issue including members of the public, community organisations, and fellow parliamentarians.
"The commitment displayed has been a powerful reflection of the devastating aftermath that these heinous attacks continue to have on the Birmingham community, and I extend my gratitude to all those who have provided contributions."
Mr Jarvis said the commission, which was set up in May 2024 to investigate Troubles-related incidents, has "robust" powers, resources, and expertise to support the families and recommended they refer their case to it for investigation.
Mr Byrne said the families’ fight for answers would continue despite the announcement.
"This is a deeply, deeply disappointing decision. The families who lost loved ones on that terrible night have asked for nothing more than truth and justice," he posted on social media.
"After so much time, so much pain, and so many let-downs, they deserve nothing less than a process they can trust.
"One that is independent, judge-led, with full powers and fearless in the search for truth.
"These families have waited half a lifetime for answers. They have endured grief, neglect and delay – yet they have never given up. And neither must we.
"The fight for the families must go on."
My statement following the decision to deny the families of the Birmingham Pub Bombing victims an independent, judge-led public inquiry. pic.twitter.com/5vVjX9zZI7
— Liam Byrne MP (@liambyrnemp) October 30, 2025
Mr Byrne said that he was in touch with Justice4The21 to "understand their next steps".
He added: "My view is that the fight must not stop here. It must go on. So I plan to bring this to the floor of the commons once more, to see what can be done to give these families what they have long deserved: a process that gets to the truth about who murdered their loved ones."
Inquest hearings concluded in April 2019 and found that a botched IRA warning call led to the unlawful killings of the 21 people who died.
An 11-member jury, which sat for almost six weeks, unanimously found that an inadequate bomb warning from the IRA cost police searching the area vital minutes.
The jurors also said that there was "not sufficient evidence" of any failings, errors or omissions by the response of West Midlands Police to the call.
