PM vows "right balance" on national security in Hillsborough Law

Duty of candour rules will stop the state hiding "from the people it should serve", Sir Keir Starmer has vowed ahead of a meeting with campaigners.

The Prime Minister said the Government had got the balance "right" between transparency and protecting spies, as part of plans for a Hillsborough Law.

Some campaigners had 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 were due to debate the proposed new law on Wednesday, but their exchanges were pushed back until Monday so the Government could propose changes which might address campaigners' concerns.

At Prime Minister's Questions, Labour MP Anneliese Midgley told the Commons: "I'd like to thank the Prime Minister for his commitment to delivering the Hillsborough Law, for it has been proven that following the Manchester Arena bombings, MI5 spent six years misleading the public and concealing information."

The Knowsley MP added that when an inquiry took place into the 2017 bombing, after Salman Abedi killed 22 people by detonating a homemade rucksack bomb, "there was no risk to national security" because MI5 officials took part in a closed hearing.

Ms Midgley asked: "So, will the Prime Minister deliver justice for those families and confirm that this Government will bring forward an amendment that will make robust the duties and responsibilities of candour for all parts of the state, including individuals in the security services, so we can finally say 'never again'?"

Sir Keir replied: "The Hillsborough Law will right wrongs of the past, changing the balance of power to ensure the state can never hide from the people it should serve."

The Prime Minister added: "I've always been clear the duty of candour applies to the intelligence services.

"I made a commitment we wouldn't water down the Bill and the amendments we've put forward strengthen it.

"It is right that there're essential safeguards in place to protect potential national security, and we've got that balance right.

"I will meet the families and will outline the next steps on Monday in relation to that crucial balance."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman has told reporters that "amendments are expected to be tabled later" on Wednesday.

"Since we introduced the Bill we have worked with the families to make this duty of candour as strong as it possibly can be, whilst never compromising on national security," he said.

"We remain determined to get this right."

Campaign group Hillsborough Law Now has said "families cannot accept a law that allows the heads of the security services to hide serious failures behind a vague claim of national security".

The group continued: "It's time for the Prime Minister to deliver on the promise he made when he looked the bereaved of Hillsborough in the eye and use this pause to lay down the law to Whitehall and the security services."

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.

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