The UK Government has withdrawn a controversial amendment to the proposed Hillsborough Law and pulled the entire legislation from Monday's parliamentary agenda. The decision follows intense criticism that the amendment could allow intelligence agencies to avoid transparency requirements when disclosing information after disasters.
The amendment, tabled last week, would have brought spies within the scope of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill but subject to approval by the head of their service. Critics argued this provision could enable security services to conceal serious failures behind national security claims.
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne told the Press Association on Sunday evening he would not support the legislation in its current form: «As it stands now, I wouldn't vote on the legislation, because at the moment it's not the Hillsborough Law because it's still got security service carve-outs.» Byrne had tabled his own amendments to ensure the duty of candour applies to intelligence officers without exceptions.
Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham warned on Saturday that the government amendment «risks undermining the spirit of the legislation» and «creates too broad an opt-out» for security services.
Government Defense
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy insisted earlier on Sunday that security services would not be «exempt» from the duty of candour. She told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg the challenge was applying the law «without fear or favour» while acknowledging intelligence agencies are «often the recipients of confidential information.»
Nandy emphasized the importance of avoiding past failures: «But that we never ever end up in a situation like we did with the Manchester Arena inquiry, and I have constituents who are affected by that as well – where the security services are able to withhold information and present an inaccurate picture to families and to a public inquiry for a very long time.»
Campaign Response
Hillsborough Law Now welcomed the government's decision: «We welcome the Government listening to the campaign, families, MPs and supporters by withdrawing their security services amendment.» The campaign group committed to further engagement «to ensure the Bill fully applies to the security services whilst not jeopardising national security.»
The proposed legislation aims to legally compel public officials and contractors to tell the truth following disasters. A government spokesperson said the bill would make «the police, intelligence agencies and the whole of government more scrutinised than they have ever been» while emphasizing: «We must get this right to keep the country safe.»
Ministers are now speaking with campaigners and bereaved families to determine the path forward for the legislation.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
