Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to "get the balance right" on the proposed Hillsborough Law, after a last-minute decision to withdraw a controversial amendment from Parliament. The move came amid fears the change could have provided a loophole for intelligence agencies to avoid a legal duty of candour.
Last-Minute Withdrawal Sparks Debate
The government completely pulled the Public Office (Accountability) Bill from Monday's parliamentary agenda. This followed an initial plan to proceed with its report stage and third reading, with amendments to be introduced later in the House of Lords. The core concern centred on amendments tabled last week that would have brought spies within the law's scope, but only subject to approval from their service heads.
Campaigners argued this safeguard would have effectively allowed security service leaders to decide unilaterally whether to disclose information, undermining the legislation's fundamental purpose. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Sir Keir Starmer emphasised his commitment to the families affected by past injustices while stressing his paramount duty to national security.
"I care hugely that we get this right, that we right the wrongs for very many families who have been let down," the Prime Minister stated. "My primary duty as Prime Minister, which is to keep this country safe and secure... is why we’re just taking time to make sure that we get that balance absolutely right."
Campaigners and Ministers Seek a Path Forward
Following the withdrawal, ministers have entered into discussions with campaigners and bereaved families to agree on a way forward. Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones told the Commons she would not set "an arbitrary deadline" for the bill's return, stating the families themselves had asked for time to ensure the policy is correct.
The campaign group Hillsborough Law Now welcomed the government's decision to listen and withdraw its amendment. However, significant criticism was levelled at the initial proposal. Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne said he could not support the bill with the government's amendments included.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham jointly warned that the amendment "risks undermining the spirit of the legislation" and "creates too broad an opt-out" for security services.
Political Recriminations and the Search for a Solution
In a fiery exchange in the Commons, new Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy accused the government of poor planning. He noted that the campaign for a Hillsborough Law began in 2016, arguing the issue of how it applies to intelligence agencies was an "obvious question that has been known for years."
Ms Davies-Jones hit back, branding his comments "utterly shameful" and accusing the previous Labour administration of doing nothing to solve the issue or help families. She insisted it was "never, ever" the government's intention to water down the bill, and that their amendments aimed to strengthen it by extending the duty to individual intelligence employees.
The proposed law, born from the decades-long fight for justice by the families of the 97 victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, seeks to impose a legal duty of candour on public officials and contractors, compelling them to tell the truth in the aftermath of major tragedies. The government now faces the complex task of crafting provisions that ensure transparency without compromising national security operations.
