PM to Scrap Spy Chiefs’ Hillsborough Law Veto
The UK prime minister is set to remove the provision allowing security services a comprehensive exemption from a law aimed at preventing cover-ups in public affairs. This law, known as the Hillsborough Law, mandates a “duty of candour” for public institutions to prioritize transparency and collaborate with disaster investigations.
According to The Times, intelligence service leaders will no longer hold the power to block officers from testifying, even when national security is at stake. Instead, they must file a targeted court request to secure partial or full exemption from the law’s requirements. The change comes after 97 football supporters lost their lives in a tragic terrace crush during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Sheffield.
Labour backbenchers have raised concerns over whether the security services should be treated separately from other public bodies under the new legislation. Meanwhile, Hillsborough families have voiced frustration with the delayed passage of the law, calling it an “insult” to their long-standing campaign for accountability.
The Hillsborough Law was initially proposed by Sir Keir Starmer during his time as opposition leader in 2022. However, its progress through Parliament slowed earlier this year due to disputes between the government and advocates over how the duty of candour should apply to spies. The original plan allowed intelligence chiefs to veto evidence from officers if it risked national security. The revised approach now requires a court application for such exemptions.
“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.” – Government spokesperson
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