Sir Keir Starmer vows to get Hillsborough Law through Parliament amid progress stall

The Prime Minister vowed to get the Hillsborough Law through Parliament after its progress stalled amid the row.

Last year, an amendment was pulled at the eleventh hour over concerns that intelligence agencies could use it to avoid being bound by the proposed duty of candour, but ministers are now expected to ensure security chiefs will not be able to veto spies from giving evidence.

Security chiefs will need to make a court application for any disclosures to be exempted, The Times reported.

Amendments were tabled bringing spies within the scope of the legislation, subject to the approval of the head of their service, but campaigners said this would run the risk of cover-ups.

Bereaved Hillsborough families have described the lack of progress of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, as it is officially called, as “an insult”.

Asked on Monday about whether he would deliver on his promise to get the Hillsborough Law passed, Sir Keir told reporters:

“I did make that promise and I intend to deliver on that promise.”

“This week is obviously an important week because it’s the anniversary – anniversary seems the wrong word in a way – but it’s the yearly reminder of what happened and the pain the families have gone through, are still going through, and the injustice that was inflicted on them for many, many years.”

He continued:

“I intend to make good on the promise that I made.”

“Obviously we’re working with the families and others on the final balance that we need to get right in the proposed legislation.”

“But the duty of candour, the duty, basically, that public officials need to come forward and tell the truth – that’s a really important principle that drives me.”

“So, we’ll keep working on this, it’s important to get it right… I’ve made a promise and I intend to act on that promise.”

The Society of Editors, which represents news organisations, said the reversal was a victory for openness and transparency.

Chief executive Dawn Alford said:

“The news that the government is planning to scrap proposals for spy chiefs to fall outside the remit of the Hillsborough Law is a major victory for transparency and openness.”

“The whole purpose of the law is to create a “duty of candour” for public authorities to tell the truth and co-operate fully with public inquiries so it is essential that the security services are treated no differently to any other public body in the eyes of the law.”

A Government spokesperson said:

“We are working with the families, who have campaigned for decades, to get this Bill right.”

“The Bill will protect national security while fundamentally changing how public authorities and officials behave during inquiries and investigations. This will ensure honesty and transparency so the state must always act for the people it serves.”

Sir Keir Starmer recently said he wanted to ‘get balance right’ on Hillsborough Law, read more here.

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