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Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has expressed confidence that ongoing disputes with campaigners regarding a proposed law aimed at preventing cover-ups can be settled before the legislation is debated again in Parliament on Monday. The so-called Hillsborough Law intends to create a statutory requirement for public bodies to cooperate fully and act truthfully in official inquiries.
The draft legislation, officially named the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, would impose a duty of candour on all public servants, including those within the security services. However, there is controversy over a government amendment allowing the heads of intelligence agencies, such as MI5 and MI6, to decide whether their officers must disclose certain information. This has raised objections from bereaved families and some Labour MPs, who fear it grants too wide an exemption and undermines the bill’s intent.
Campaigners argue that this provision would leave security service leaders with unchecked authority to withhold information from inquiries. Elkan Abrahamson, representing the Hillsborough Law Now campaign, stated that decisions about relevance should rest with inquiry leaders rather than agency heads. He also noted that national security exceptions already exist, permitting some evidence to be heard in private when necessary. Similar concerns have been voiced by families affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, where an inquiry revealed that MI5 failed to provide an accurate account of intelligence on the attacker.
Nandy acknowledged the delicate balance required, emphasizing that the security services “won’t be exempt,” but highlighted the complexity of ensuring they remain accountable without hindering their operational effectiveness. She said, “But that we never ever end up in a situation like we did with the Manchester Arena inquiry… where the security services are able to withhold information and present an inaccurate picture to families and to a public inquiry for a very long time.” Supporters of the law, including Labour’s regional mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, have criticized the proposed exemption as too broad, warning it risks compromising the legislation’s spirit. Ahead of Monday’s Commons vote, reports suggest some Labour MPs are prepared to rebel over the issue
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