The mayors of Liverpool and Manchester have jointly called for the Government to withdraw a controversial amendment to the proposed Hillsborough Law, arguing it grants an excessively wide exemption to the security services.
A Joint Call for Transparency
In a powerful joint statement, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham warned that the amendment 'risks undermining the spirit of the legislation'. The change, proposed by the Government this past Wednesday, would bring intelligence agencies within the scope of the new law, but only subject to the approval of their own service heads.
Campaigners and the mayors fear this would effectively allow the leaders of organisations like MI5 to act as the sole arbiters on whether to disclose information during public inquiries. This, they argue, could permit serious failings to be hidden behind vague claims of national security.
Campaigners' Fears and Historical Context
Elkan Abrahamson, a lawyer for the Hillsborough Law Now campaign, stated the amendments leave security chiefs 'unchallengeable' and free to make 'whatever decision they want' on disclosure. Campaigners have pointed to the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing inquiry, where, as Labour MP Annaliese Midgley told the Commons, MI5 was accused of spending 'six years misleading the public and concealing information'.
The mayors were careful to stress their support for national security, noting they had both witnessed devastating incidents in their regions. However, they argued that establishing the truth swiftly when things go wrong is a vital part of strengthening the country's defences.
'An important part of strengthening the country's defences is establishing the truth at the earliest opportunity when things go wrong,' they wrote on X.
Political Debate and Next Steps
The parliamentary debate on the Hillsborough Law, formally titled the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill, was pushed back to this coming Monday to allow for these Government amendments. In response, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted the proposed changes did not water down the duty of candour for intelligence services.
Meanwhile, Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne has tabled his own amendments to ensure the duty applies to individuals within the agencies, not just the organisations themselves. The mayors have urged the Government to withdraw its amendment ahead of Monday's debate and collaborate with families and the Hillsborough Law Now campaign to find a solution acceptable to all.
The proposed law takes its name from the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, a stadium crush in Sheffield that led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans. A long campaign for transparency followed, where authorities were accused of a cover-up.
A Government spokesperson said the legislation would 'right the wrongs of the past' and create unprecedented scrutiny, but added that 'we can never compromise on national security'.
