A significant legislation known as the Hillsborough Law, aimed at preventing future cover-ups by the state, has faced delays due to concerns that intelligence agencies were not included. Families affected by tragic events such as the Manchester Arena bombing and the Hillsborough disaster are set to meet with Keir Starmer following the postponement of the remaining stages of the law until next Monday.
Advocates have emphasized the importance of including all public services, including MI5, MI6, and GCHQ, under the Hillsborough Law, which seeks to make it a criminal offense for public officials to lie. They view the slight delay as an opportunity to address any shortcomings in the legislation.
The law stems from the prolonged efforts of families seeking justice for the 97 Liverpool fans who perished in the Hillsborough stadium crush during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. The Public Office (Accountability) Bill will establish a legal duty of transparency for public officials like police officers, with penalties for dishonesty or information withholding. Additionally, a new offense for misleading the public will be introduced, with severe consequences for egregious breaches.
Although the legislation was initially scheduled for review in the Commons, Downing Street confirmed a delay due to concerns that the Bill did not cover individual employees of intelligence agencies.
A spokesperson for Hillsborough Law Now, supported by victims of various injustices, including the Grenfell Tower fire and the infected blood scandal, expressed the families’ frustration with delayed truths and diluted accountability. They stress the need for the law to hold powerful institutions accountable without loopholes that allow them to evade responsibility.
The Prime Minister’s official representative affirmed the law’s intent to empower citizens and officials, including those in intelligence services, to respond transparently to failures. Amendments have been made to strengthen the duty of transparency while upholding national security concerns. The remaining stages of the Bill have been rescheduled for the following week to address any outstanding issues.