Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has given a firm assurance that the security services will not be exempt from the proposed Hillsborough Law, addressing significant concerns that a core principle of the legislation is being diluted.
Mayors and Campaigners Voice Strong Opposition
The intervention follows urgent calls from the mayors of Liverpool and Manchester for the Government to withdraw a controversial amendment. Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham warned on Saturday that the change "risks undermining the spirit of the legislation" by creating what they see as an overly broad opt-out clause for intelligence agencies.
Their concern centres on amendments tabled by the Government last Wednesday. While these changes formally bring spies within the scope of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill – commonly known as the Hillsborough Law – they would allow disclosure to be subject to approval by the head of the relevant service. Campaigners argue this effectively permits those running the security services to decide what information is revealed.
Nandy's Assurance on Security Services' Role
Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Ms Nandy sought to allay fears. "I just want to be really clear, the security services won't be exempt," she stated. She acknowledged the delicate balance required, saying the challenge is to apply the law "without fear or favour" while ensuring the agencies can "continue to do their jobs."
The Wigan MP highlighted the painful lessons from past tragedies, stressing the importance of avoiding a repeat of situations like the Manchester Arena inquiry, where security services withheld information, presenting an inaccurate picture to bereaved families and the public inquiry for a prolonged period.
Ongoing Talks and Parliamentary Timetable
Despite threats of backbench opposition from within her own party, Ms Nandy rejected suggestions the plans could be withdrawn. She confirmed the Government is in active discussions with families and campaigners to resolve the outstanding issues. A parliamentary debate on the bill, initially scheduled for last week, was postponed until Monday to allow for these crucial negotiations.
"I'm confident that we're going to resolve it," Ms Nandy said. "How it plays out tomorrow at the moment, is dependent on those conversations that we have, but those conversations are going on right now."
Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, echoed the sentiment that the duty of candour is "vital" for the families who have campaigned for decades. She noted the legislation is "95% there" but warned that "without the trust and confidence of the families it's going to be very difficult." She suggested mechanisms, such as private hearings with a judge, could protect national security without compromising transparency.
The proposed law is named after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, a stadium crush at an FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield that led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans. Its central aim is to establish a legal duty of candour on public authorities and officials to proactively cooperate with official investigations and inquiries.
