PM to scrap spy chiefs’ Hillsborough Law veto
PM to scrap spy chiefs’ Hillsborough Law veto
Prime Minister is set to abolish plans that would have granted security services a universal exemption from the Hillsborough Law. This legislation mandates a “duty of candour” for public authorities, requiring them to be truthful and collaborate with disaster investigations. The Times first revealed that intelligence service leaders can no longer prevent officers from testifying, and they must now seek court approval to exempt certain disclosures when national security demands it.
The Hillsborough Law was initially proposed by Sir Keir Starmer during his time as opposition leader in 2022. However, its progress in Parliament slowed earlier this year due to disputes over how the new candour requirement applies to spies. Previously, chiefs of the intelligence services had the authority to block evidence sharing if it risked national security breaches. The revised plan shifts this to a specific court process, aligning spies with other public bodies under the law.
“We are working with the families, who have campaigned for decades, to get this bill right,” said a government spokesperson. “The bill will fundamentally change how public authorities and officials behave during inquiries and investigations, ensuring honesty and transparency, so the state must always act for the people it serves.”
Ministers faced mounting criticism from Labour backbenchers regarding whether security services should be treated differently from other public bodies. Hillsborough families also expressed frustration over the delayed law, calling it an “insult” to their long-standing advocacy. The 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Sheffield saw 97 football fans fatally injured in a terrace crush, prompting the law’s creation.
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