Ministers DROP amendment protecting security services from Hillsborough Law in the face of huge Labour revolt
Ministers have pulled an amendment protecting the security services from the Hillsborough Law in the face of a huge Labour revolt.
Keir Starmer had been staring down the barrel of large numbers of MPs voting against the government in the Commons tomorrow evening.
The Labour mayors of Liverpool and Manchester were among those condemning a change to the legislation that could have created a 'broad opt-out' for the security services.
The Bill is intended to bring in a 'duty of candour' for public servants, to avoid the risk of cover-ups.
The amendment would have included spies within the scope of the law, but only subject to the approval of the head of their service.
Keir Starmer had been staring down the barrel of large numbers of MPs voting against the government in the Commons tomorrow evening
Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram (pictured) and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said on Saturday that the amendment 'risks undermining the spirit of the legislation'
Touring broadcast studios this morning, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the 'challenge is to make sure that this applies to the security services without fear or favour' while being able to 'continue to do their jobs'
The tweak is not now expected to be moved by the government in the Commons tomorrow, with work ongoing to find a solution that can be added to the text later.
A Government spokeswoman said: 'This legislation will right the wrongs of the past, changing the balance of power to ensure the state can never hide from the people it should serve and putting a legal duty on officials to respond openly and honestly when things go wrong.
'The Bill will make the police, intelligence agencies and the whole of government more scrutinised than they have ever been, but we can never compromise on national security.
'We will continue to work with all parties to make sure the Bill is the strongest it can possibly be, without compromising national security.'
Touring broadcast studios this morning, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the 'challenge is to make sure that this applies to the security services without fear or favour' while being able to 'continue to do their jobs'.
Ms Nandy told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: 'I just want to be really clear, the security services won't be exempt.'
She added that it was important to 'never ever end up in a situation like we did with the Manchester Arena inquiry' where 'security services are able to withhold information and present an inaccurate picture to families and to a public inquiry for a very long time'.
Some campaigners have warned that a draft version of the legislation – formally known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill – might allow intelligence chiefs to 'hide serious failures behind a vague claim of national security'.
MPs had been due to debate the Hillsborough Law this week but the discussion was pushed back until tomorrow to allow the Government to propose changes that might address campaigners' concerns.
Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said that duty of candour regarding the security services was 'vital' for families who have campaigned for the Hillsborough Law.
Ms Brabin told the BBC the legislation was '95% there' but 'without the trust and confidence of the families it's going to be very difficult'.
Labour MPs had been indicated they would vote against the amendment tomorrow
The Labour mayor said: 'I think the duty of candour is so vital for the justice for these families that have been fighting for decades.
'You can do it privately with a judge. There are ways to do it.'
Ms Brabin added: 'This government has shown an appetite to slow things down, to get things right.
'And I think this is a historic landmark piece of legislation, it's really worth leaning in to get it right.'
The Hillsborough Law takes its name from the 1989 stadium crush in Sheffield, which led to the death of 97 football fans at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
