PM to scrap spy chiefs' Hillsborough Law veto

The prime minister is expected to scrap plans that would have given security services a blanket exemption from a law designed to prevent cover-ups in public life.

The Hillsborough Law will create a "duty of candour" for public authorities to tell the truth and co-operate with disaster inquiries.

As first reported by The Times, security chiefs will not be able to block spies from giving evidence and, where deemed necessary to national security, will have to make a court application for disclosures to be partially or fully exempted.

Relatives of the 1989 football disaster's 97 victims, as well as other campaigners for a Hillsborough Law, have reacted with surprise to the latest developments.

Fans were fatally injured in a terrace crush at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989 at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium.

Ministers had faced growing pressure from Labour backbenchers about whether the security services should be treated differently from other public bodies under the new law.

Hillsborough families have also criticised the government over the delayed introduction of the new law and have labelled it an "insult".

The Hillsborough Law was first promised by Sir Keir Starmer when he was leader of the opposition in 2022.

Asked about whether he would deliver on his pledge to get the Hillsborough Law passed, the prime minister said: "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."

The bill's progress through Parliament stalled earlier this year over disagreements between the government and campaigners about how the new legal duty of candour should apply to spies.

The previous proposal was that the chiefs of the intelligence services would be able to veto officers from giving evidence that could potentially risk breaching national security.

Under the government's new plans, the security services would instead have to make a specific court application if they wanted an exemption from the law.

The director of the Hillsborough Law Now group, Pete Weatherby KC, told the BBC: "We have had no update from government, and as far as we are aware none of the outstanding issues have been addressed.

"We have no idea what's going on with the progress of the legislation at the moment and will be making no further comment until we are given a government update."

A government spokesperson said: "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."

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