In a bid to find a resolution that satisfies all parties, Labour leader Keir Starmer has delayed the Hillsborough law’s return to the Commons until an agreement can be reached with the victims’ families. The proposed legislation, aimed at preventing official cover-ups, has been the subject of intense negotiations, with the families and campaigners pushing for greater accountability for the security services.
At the heart of the disagreement is the issue of the “duty of candour” – a provision that would see public officials prosecuted for lying or evading questions. The government has agreed to extend this to the security services, but the families argue that allowing agency chiefs to have the final say on when individual officers can provide evidence could lead to future cover-ups.
Starmer, who is determined to “right the wrongs” for the Hillsborough families and ensure a better future, said he must balance the national interest and the need to keep the country safe with the families’ demands for justice. “My primary duty as Prime Minister is to keep this country safe and secure,” he stated, “which is why we’re taking the time to make sure we get that balance absolutely right.”
The government has laid down its own amendments to the bill, but the families and their legal representative, barrister Peter Wetherby, have rejected these as not going far enough. Talks between the families, ministers, and representatives from the intelligence agencies broke down last week, leading Starmer to delay the bill’s return to the Commons.
Labour MP Ian Byrne, who had tabled an amendment in line with the families’ demands, expressed relief that the government had pulled the bill from Commons business, but warned it may now not return for many weeks. The Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, and the Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, also criticised the government’s amendments, stating they risk undermining the spirit of the legislation.
Starmer is likely to be personally involved in the later stages of the negotiations as the government and the families seek to find a compromise that satisfies the need for accountability while also protecting national security. The Hillsborough Law Now campaign group welcomed the government’s decision to withdraw its security service amendment, a move seen as a positive step towards reaching an agreement.
