Government Reversal Could Unblock Delayed Hillsborough Legislation
In a significant policy shift, the British government appears ready to drop its opposition to including intelligence services within the scope of the long-delayed Hillsborough law. This development could potentially revive legislation that has been stalled since January due to disagreements over whether security service personnel should be subject to the same transparency requirements as other public officials.
Intelligence Evidence Block Had Halted Progress
The proposed Hillsborough law, which would establish a statutory duty of candour for public officials and contractors following major disasters, had been progressing through Parliament until earlier this year. The legislation was paused in January after families of Hillsborough victims and their parliamentary supporters raised concerns about intelligence officers being exempt from its provisions.
More than twenty Labour MPs, including Merseyside representatives Ian Byrne and Anneliese Midgley, had backed amendments specifically designed to place duties of candour on intelligence personnel. The government had attempted a compromise that would have brought spies within the legislation's scope but only with approval from their service heads. Campaigners rejected this approach, arguing it would allow security service leaders to decide what information to disclose.
Families' Persistent Campaigning Drives Change
The potential government reversal follows sustained pressure from families affected by both the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. In a letter to Labour leader Keir Starmer, Manchester Arena families argued that Security Service officers should not be exempt from the new law, pointing to the inquiry finding that the deadly attack could have been prevented if MI5 had acted on crucial intelligence.
"MI5 failed our loved ones and failed us," the families wrote. "It did so by failing to prevent the arena bombing. But it then failed and hurt us further through its lack of candour after the attack." Some of these families subsequently met with Starmer alongside Margaret Aspinall, a prominent Hillsborough campaigner who has known the prime minister for years.
Legislative Timeline Remains Uncertain
Despite the potential breakthrough, significant legislative hurdles remain. The bill has not yet been considered by the House of Lords, and with a new parliamentary session beginning next month, the legislation may need to restart its journey through Parliament. Starmer had initially promised to pass the law by last year's anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, but that deadline has long since passed.
A government spokesperson stated: "We are working with the families, who have campaigned for decades, to get this bill right. 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."
The 37th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster falls this Wednesday, with any formal announcement of a new legislative plan unlikely to occur before that commemorative date. While government officials confirm that discussions are ongoing, they emphasize that no final agreement has yet been reached regarding the intelligence services provision.
