PM to scrap spy chiefs’ Hillsborough Law veto

Prime Minister Announces Reversal of Plans to Grant Spy Chiefs Veto Over Hillsborough Law

The UK government has decided to abandon its earlier proposal that would have allowed intelligence service leaders to override the Hillsborough Law. This law mandates a “duty of candour” for public bodies, requiring them to disclose information and cooperate fully with inquiries into disasters. The change comes after significant debate over whether spies should be exempt from these transparency rules.

Originally, the plan gave security chiefs the authority to block officers from testifying if their testimony might risk national security. Now, the government will require specific court applications for partial or full exemptions. The decision follows mounting pressure from Labour MPs, who questioned the fairness of treating spies differently from other public officials.

Legacy of the 1989 Hillsborough Tragedy

In 1989, a crush in the Leppings Lane terrace during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest resulted in the deaths of 97 football fans in Sheffield. Families of the victims have long advocated for accountability, criticizing the delayed implementation of the law as an “insult.” The legislation was first proposed by Sir Keir Starmer when he was opposition leader in 2022.

“We are working with the families, who have campaigned for decades, to get this bill right,” said a government spokesperson. “The bill will fundamentally change how public authorities and officials behave during inquiries and investigations, ensuring honesty and transparency, so the state must always act for the people it serves.”

Earlier this year, the bill’s passage through Parliament stalled due to disputes between the government and campaigners about the scope of the spy chiefs’ veto. The revised approach aims to align the law with the principles of openness and accountability central to the Hillsborough inquiry.

Listen to BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow them on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Share story ideas via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2230.