Ministers have decided to withdraw an amendment to the Hillsborough Law concerning the intelligence services following significant opposition from bereaved families and Members of Parliament.
Keir Starmer was at risk of facing a rebellion over the bill, which is aimed at preventing future cover-ups by the state and is named after the tragic events of 1989. The proposed legislation includes the introduction of a “duty of candour” for public officials, requiring them to act honestly under the threat of potential criminal penalties.
The government’s proposed amendment aimed to include MI5 and MI6 spies under the legislation, but with the condition that their disclosures would be subject to approval by their respective service heads. Critics, including campaigners and families affected by the Hillsborough disaster, expressed concerns that this provision would allow security service leaders to control the release of information. Discussions between the parties were ongoing as of Sunday.
It has been communicated that the amendment will not be put forward on Monday, with the government intending to collaborate with families to introduce amendments in the House of Lords.
Keir Starmer has engaged with bereaved families on multiple occasions, and has assured them that the integrity of the Bill will not be compromised. Margaret Aspinall, whose son James perished in the Hillsborough tragedy, introduced Starmer at the Labour conference last year.
A government representative stated, “This legislation aims to rectify past injustices by rebalancing the power dynamic to ensure transparency and accountability from the state towards the public. The bill imposes a legal obligation on officials to respond openly and honestly in the event of failures.”
Ian Byrne, Member of Parliament for Liverpool West Derby and a witness to the Hillsborough tragedy, expressed his satisfaction with the decision to postpone the amendment. He urged the government to either adopt his proposed amendment or collaborate with stakeholders to craft a new amendment that upholds the spirit of the Hillsborough Law.
Over the weekend, mayors from Liverpool and Manchester called on the Prime Minister to retract an amendment that they believe provides excessive discretion for intelligence services. Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham emphasized the need to remove the amendment and collaborate with stakeholders for a mutually agreeable solution.
Labour MP Justin Madders supported the mayors’ stance, stating his full agreement. Following the government’s withdrawal of the amendment, Madders expressed optimism that a resolution could be reached through ongoing discussions.
Culture Secretary Ms. Nandy clarified that the security services would not be exempt from the “duty of candour” requirement. She emphasized the importance of avoiding situations like the Manchester Arena inquiry, where inaccurate information was withheld from families and the public for an extended period. Nandy expressed confidence in resolving the matter through ongoing dialogue.
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