PM to scrap spy chiefs’ Hillsborough Law veto

PM to Scrap Spy Chiefs’ Hillsborough Law Veto

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to revoke the provision that would have granted intelligence agencies full immunity from a new legal framework aimed at preventing official cover-ups. The Hillsborough Law mandates a “duty of candour” requiring public entities to disclose information and collaborate with inquiry processes. According to The Times, the security services will no longer hold the power to block evidence submission, and any exemption for national security concerns must now be sought through a formal court request.

The 1989 FA Cup semi-final disaster in Sheffield, where 97 football supporters died in a stadium crush, remains central to the law’s purpose. Families of the victims have long argued that the delayed passage of the legislation was a deliberate slight, calling it an “insult” to their cause. Labour MPs also raised concerns about whether the intelligence services should be exempt from the same obligations as other public institutions under the new rules.

Initially proposed by Sir Keir Starmer during his time as opposition leader in 2022, the bill faced setbacks earlier this year due to disputes over how the duty of candour should apply to spies. Originally, intelligence chiefs could veto evidence given by their officers if it threatened national security. The revised approach now compels them to apply to courts for partial or full exemptions. The government emphasized its collaboration with Hillsborough families to refine the legislation, stating it aims to ensure public authorities act transparently in investigations.

“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.”

Listen to BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds, follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Share story ideas via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2230.