The government has withdrawn a controversial amendment to its proposed Hillsborough law, which would have allowed intelligence chiefs to decide whether to disclose information to public inquiries. The decision follows widespread criticism from campaigners and MPs, who argued the change would weaken the legislation's core purpose of ensuring honesty from public officials after disasters.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, prompted by the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, aims to impose a legal duty on public officials and contractors to tell the truth. The government's amendment, tabled on Wednesday, brought spies within the scope of the bill but subject to approval from the head of their service. Critics said this would create an opt-out for senior officials.
A government spokesperson said the amendment was pulled to ensure the bill is as strong as possible without compromising national security. The bill will still proceed through the Commons as planned, with further amendments expected when it reaches the House of Lords. Campaign group Hillsborough Law Now welcomed the move, pledging to work with the government to ensure the security services are fully covered without jeopardising national security.
The decision marks another U-turn for the government, which has recently reversed policies on farmers' inheritance tax, digital ID cards and business rates for pubs. Labour MPs, including Ian Byrne and John McDonnell, had warned that including the amendment would break promises made to Hillsborough families and damage the party's reputation. Byrne, a survivor of the disaster, said the government must deliver on commitments made to those who lost loved ones.
