Why Liverpool MP fears Hillsborough Law ‘could be kicked into the long grass’
The government has paused progress on the Hillsborough Bill, prompting a Liverpool MP to express concerns about the “direction of travel” of the legislation, along with fears of a possible loophole for intelligence services.
Labour’s Paula Barker welcomed the decision to delay the bill’s parliamentary progress but urged ministers to continue communicating with campaigners.
The law, which was initially at the report stage and planned to be read for the third time, was completely withdrawn from Monday’s agenda.
The pause stems from concerns that the change of government could be abused by intelligence agencies, allowing them to bypass the duty of candor recommended to them.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised to “get the balance right” on the proposed legislation, formally the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, at a Downing Street press conference on Monday morning.
In the House of Commons, justice secretary Alex Davies-Jones said there was “absolutely no distinction here”, adding that the duty of candor would apply to all public officials, including the intelligence services.
During the statement, Ms Barker (Liverpool Wavertree) said: “Whilst I am pleased that the Government has paused progress on the Hillsborough Bill, I am increasingly concerned about the direction of travel.
“In March last year, the families of 97 and Merseyside MPs made it clear that we would accept nothing less than the Hillsborough Bill.
“We all understand the importance of national security, but this bill is not incompatible with national security and as has been said before, the provisions are already in place and frankly no one is above the law.
“A regulation of the security and intelligence services would allow the behavior revealed in the Manchester Arena investigation to occur again, where MI5 was able to withhold information and avoid accountability.”
He implored the Minister to “continue to work with families” and “bring the Hillsborough Bill back to this House so we can all pass it”.
Ms Davies-Jones replied: “The Prime Minister has made it clear that the bill introduced at second reading is legislation agreed with Hillsborough Law Now and families and will not be watered down.
“We will do everything we can to strengthen this bill and continue to work with families.”
Liverpool West Derby Labor MP Ian Byrne also welcomed the “pause” but pressed for a timetable for when the bill would return.
He added: “As (the Minister) so rightly put it, we have been waiting for this for a long time.
“There is now a real, real concern that this could be thrown out.”
In her response, Ms Davies-Jones said: “We know families have been waiting too long.
“This is long overdue.
“We’re not throwing this into the long grass.
“We are determined to do this as quickly as possible, but we need to do it right and I am not setting an arbitrary deadline on this.
“The families asked me not to do it.
“They want us to do this right, and we are committed to doing that and implementing this policy correctly.”
Anneliese Midgley, Labor MP for Knowsley, said: “Any change that does not satisfy families about the duty of honesty of individuals in the security services is a red line for me and many other colleagues here.
“So will the minister promise me that he will have the full support of the families and work like clappers with the families to bring about change that will ensure justice for all victims of state cover-ups and finally say never again?”
Ms Davies-Jones said she would “continue to work with families, the intelligence services and the Intelligence and Security Committee to find a way forward”.
