A significant advancement has been achieved regarding the much-anticipated Hillsborough Law following intense efforts to prepare the legislation before Keir Starmer’s departure.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, a long-awaited measure, is set to be reintroduced to Members of Parliament this week, as confirmed by The Mirror. This milestone comes after extensive negotiations to address a disagreement over the application of a duty of candour to intelligence services.
This development is being celebrated as a resounding success in preventing future cover-ups akin to the aftermath of the tragic deaths of 97 Liverpool fans in 1989. Proposed amendments to be presented this week will allow individuals associated with intelligence agencies to receive ‘compliance directions’. This move is expected to address concerns about national security by mandating staff to support public inquiries and investigations.
According to sources, the new amendments will establish a secure process to facilitate this within a national security framework. Under the revised proposals, individual employees will provide information to their organization’s head, who will then relay the information to the relevant inquiry or investigation, adhering to existing legal and practical protocols for safeguarding sensitive data.
The Labour party had pledged to introduce a Hillsborough Law in its 2024 election manifesto. Despite commitments to push it through, the legislation has been entangled in legal disputes since September last year.
A government insider stated, “This marks a significant victory following months of dedicated efforts to find a resolution that ensures the application of a duty of candour to intelligence services without jeopardizing national security. The Hillsborough Law will fundamentally shift the power balance to prevent the state from concealing information from the public and to ensure that victims always have access to justice.”
Earlier, the Hillsborough Law campaign informed The Liverpool Echo: “The Government has agreed that there will be no exceptions or exclusions for security services or any other entities, breaking the deadlock that persisted since January. This is a crucial milestone, not only for Hillsborough families but for every family that has faced a cover-up and lack of accountability from public authorities. We are one step closer to ensuring that families no longer have to endure decades-long battles for the truth.”
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