The UK government is set to remove a controversial provision that would have granted intelligence chiefs blanket authority to block evidence in public inquiries under the proposed Hillsborough Law. This significant shift comes after mounting pressure from campaigners and opposition lawmakers.
"I did make that promise and I intend to deliver on that promise," Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, referencing his 2022 commitment to enact the legislation. "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."
The Hillsborough Law, named after the 1989 football disaster that claimed 97 lives, aims to establish a statutory "duty of candour" requiring public authorities to cooperate fully and transparently with official investigations. Previously, security service leaders would have held veto power to prevent intelligence officers from testifying if they deemed it a national security risk.
Under revised plans, intelligence agencies must now petition the courts for specific exemptions on a case-by-case basis rather than exercising unilateral authority. This change addresses concerns raised by Hillsborough families and Labour backbenchers about creating unequal standards between security services and other public bodies.
Campaigners have expressed cautious optimism but note ongoing uncertainties. Pete Weatherby KC, director of the Hillsborough Law Now group, told media outlets: "We have had no update from government, and as far as we are aware none of the outstanding issues have been addressed."
A government spokesperson emphasized collaboration with affected families, stating: "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."
The legislation's progress had stalled earlier this year amid disagreements about balancing transparency with national security concerns. The government's latest move represents a substantial concession to campaigners who have long argued that intelligence services should not receive special protections that could enable cover-ups.