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Families affected by the Manchester Arena bombing have expressed strong criticism of MI5, accusing the agency of failing them and urging full inclusion in forthcoming legislation aimed at preventing concealment of the truth in public service. In a letter addressed to Sir Keir Starmer, seen by the BBC, these families questioned how many times MI5 would have to prove untrustworthiness before meaningful action is taken. The public inquiry into the 2017 attack concluded that MI5 did not provide an accurate account of the intelligence it possessed regarding Salman Abedi, who detonated a homemade bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people and injuring many more.
The legislation, often referred to as the “Hillsborough Law,” is currently progressing through Parliament. It builds on the efforts sparked by families impacted by the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, where 97 people lost their lives. That tragedy uncovered police leadership’s dissemination of false accounts that wrongly blamed Liverpool fans and the withholding of evidence about official errors. The new law mandates public officials to be truthful in investigations, including those examining major incidents.
The bill, officially named the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, introduces three main duties: a general duty requiring public officials to proactively tell the truth in their roles, an ancillary duty of candour applicable during official inquiries and inquests, and a provision aimed at balancing legal representation funding between state bodies and victims. It also imposes criminal penalties for breaches of these candour obligations. Sir Keir Starmer has emphasized that this legislation will shift the power balance in Britain, ensuring the government is held accountable to the public.
However, Pete Weatherby KC, a barrister and director of the Hillsborough Law Now campaign, expressed disappointment with the government’s approach, stating he has been “misled” during negotiations regarding how the law will apply to intelligence agencies like MI5, MI6, and GCHQ. Weatherby, who represented both Hillsborough and Manchester Arena victims’ families in their legal battles, highlighted that MI5 provided false narratives during previous inquiries and missed chances to stop the Manchester attack. He stressed that the government’s proposed measures for the intelligence services seem more superficial than substantive, leaving them less accountable than initially negotiated.
Among those advocating for changes is the family of several young victims of the Manchester bombing, including Liam Curry, Chloe Rutherford, Megan Hurley, Eilidh MacLeod, and Kelly Brewster. They have called on the prime minister to ensure that the new law applies equally to intelligence services. Their letter insists on a full duty of candour for MI5, MI6, and GCHQ, pointing to MI5’s failure both to prevent the attack and to be honest afterward. The families expressed frustration that despite MI5’s dishonesty during the inquiry, no one has been held responsible and called for equal standards of truthfulness and accountability for all security officials.
Claire Booth, sister of victim Kelly Brewster, who survived the attack while her daughter was severely injured, voiced her anger over MI5’s conduct. She described their behavior after the bombing as “infuriating” and made the family feel like “collateral damage.” Booth underscored that the intelligence agencies’ lack of transparency only worsens the trauma felt by victims’ loved ones.
The government responded by reaffirming its commitment to end cover-ups and increase transparency through the Hillsborough Law, which they state will apply to all public bodies, including intelligence agencies. They acknowledged ongoing consultation efforts to strengthen the bill while safeguarding national security. Meanwhile, concerns remain over a provision that could exempt individual intelligence officers from the ancillary duty of candour, a point Weatherby highlighted as critical. Without holding individuals liable, he warned, systemic dishonesty may persist unchecked.
Notably, MI5 has faced criticism and legal scrutiny in recent years for providing misleading evidence during court cases related to a neo-Nazi spy and an IRA informant known as Stakeknife, leading to official apologies and ongoing investigations. Brian Booth, Kelly Brewster’s sister, summed up the call for accountability by asserting that intelligence services should be held to the same standards of openness as everyone else—a vital step to uncover the truth behind tragedies like terrorist attacks and the Hillsborough disaster
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