Ministers have decided to withdraw an amendment to the Hillsborough Law that would have affected the intelligence services following strong opposition from bereaved families and Members of Parliament.
The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, faced potential rebellion over the bill, which aims to prevent future cover-ups by public officials and is named after the tragic event in 1989. The proposed legislation includes a provision for a “duty of candour,” requiring honesty from officials under threat of criminal repercussions.
A proposed government amendment intended to include MI5 and MI6 spies under the law’s jurisdiction, subject to approval from their service heads, was met with criticism. Concerns were raised that this arrangement could allow security service leaders to control the disclosure of information. Discussions between campaigners, families, and the government were ongoing.
Reportedly, the amendment will not be presented in the Commons on Monday, as the government plans to collaborate with families to introduce revised amendments in the House of Lords.
Keir Starmer has engaged with bereaved families, offering personal assurances that the bill would not be diluted. Margaret Aspinall, who lost her son in the Hillsborough disaster, introduced Starmer at a previous Labour conference.
A government spokesperson emphasized that the legislation aims to address past injustices by empowering the public and enforcing a duty for officials to transparently address failures. While acknowledging the increased scrutiny on law enforcement and intelligence agencies, they asserted that national security must not be compromised.
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, who was present during the Hillsborough tragedy, expressed satisfaction with the temporary halt to the amendment. He urged the government to consider his proposed changes or collaborate on a new amendment that aligns more closely with the Hillsborough Law’s objectives.
Over the weekend, mayors of Liverpool and Manchester urged the Prime Minister to retract an amendment that they believed provided excessive discretion to spies under the law. They called for a solution agreeable to all stakeholders ahead of the parliamentary debate.
Following the government’s decision to withdraw the amendment, there was a positive response from Labour MP Justin Madders, indicating that the government’s responsiveness to families’ concerns was encouraging.
Culture Secretary Ms. Nandy assured that the intelligence services would not be exempt from the “duty of candour.” She highlighted the importance of avoiding situations where security services withhold information, referencing past inquiries such as the Manchester Arena incident.
Ms. Nandy expressed confidence in resolving the issue and stressed ongoing discussions to address concerns.