Government withdraws security-services amendment to Hillsborough bill

The government has pulled an amendment to its proposed Hillsborough law in Parliament after campaigners and MPs said the change would water down the legislation. The public office (accountability) bill aims to force public officials and contractors to tell the truth after disasters.

Proposed amendments would have brought intelligence officers within the bill’s scope but only subject to the approval of the head of their service, a provision campaigners said would allow security service leaders to decide whether to disclose information. The government decided not to move its amendment on Monday and, it is understood, will work with campaigners and the bereaved to bring forward changes when the bill reaches the Lords; the bill will still return to the Commons for its report stage and third reading.

The decision followed fierce criticism from campaign groups and MPs. Hillsborough Law Now said on X: “We welcome the government listening to the campaign, families, MPs and supporters by withdrawing their security services amendment. We shall engage further with government to ensure the bill fully applies to the security services whilst not jeopardising national security.” MPs including Ian Byrne, John McDonnell and Paula Barker warned the amendment risked breaking promises to families and damaging the party, describing the proposal as “untenable and unacceptable”, “a Hillsborough law, but not the Hillsborough Law” and “the ultimate betrayal” respectively.

Key Topics

Politics, Hillsborough Law, Hillsborough Law Now, Ian Byrne, John Mcdonnell, Paula Barker