A significant law known as the Hillsborough Law, aimed at preventing future cover-ups by the state, has faced a delay due to concerns about the exclusion of intelligence agencies.
Families affected by tragedies like the Manchester Arena bombing and the Hillsborough disaster are scheduled to meet with Keir Starmer following the postponement of the final stages of the law until next Monday.
Advocates emphasized the necessity for the Hillsborough Law to encompass all public services, including MI5, MI6, and GCHQ, to ensure accountability for public officials. They view the slight delay as an opportunity to rectify any existing flaws within the legislation.
The legislation is a result of persistent efforts by families seeking justice for the 97 Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the tragic Hillsborough stadium crush during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. The law, known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, will impose a legal obligation of transparency on public officials, such as police officers, with penalties for dishonesty or information withholding.
The remaining stages of the law, initially planned for Wednesday, have been postponed by Downing Street due to concerns that the Bill did not cover individual intelligence agency employees.
Caroline Curry, who tragically lost her son in the Manchester Arena attack, stressed the importance of the law being all-encompassing, without exceptions, to ensure integrity across all services, including top-tier agencies like MI5, MI6, and GCHQ.
Hillsborough Law Now, supported by various victims of injustices like the Grenfell Tower fire and the infected blood scandal, expressed approval of the delay, urging for necessary corrections to the legislation to prevent powerful institutions from evading accountability.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson affirmed the law’s aim to enforce accountability on officials, including those in intelligence services, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring national security while upholding transparency. Amendments have been proposed to address concerns regarding intelligence agency employees’ coverage, with the remaining stages of the Bill rescheduled for the following week.