Key Takeaways:
- The British government has cancelled a vote on the proposed "Hillsborough Law" due to concerns over an exemption for security services
- The bill aims to ensure transparency from public officials, but critics argue that the exemption is too broad
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the balance of the bill needs to be right to ensure national security while providing transparency
- The bill is named after the Hillsborough soccer stadium disaster in 1989, where 97 fans died due to police mistakes
- Campaign groups and lawmakers have raised concerns that the exemption could undermine the spirit of the bill and allow security services to avoid scrutiny
Introduction to the Hillsborough Law
The British government has cancelled a vote on a proposed bill known as the "Hillsborough Law", which aims to ensure transparency from public officials. The bill is named after the Hillsborough soccer stadium in Sheffield, where a deadly crush in 1989 resulted in the deaths of 97 fans. The disaster was initially blamed on the fans, but later inquests and an inquiry found that the police were actually responsible. The proposed law imposes a duty on public authorities and public officials to act with "candour, transparency and frankness" and requires them to act accordingly when complying with inquiries and investigations.
Concerns Over Exemption for Security Services
However, the government had planned an amendment to allow intelligence officers to be exempted from this duty if their bosses deemed there was a national security risk. This exemption has raised concerns among campaign groups and some Labour lawmakers and mayors, who argue that it is too broad and could undermine the spirit of the bill. The security services have been criticized for failing to stop a suicide attack at a pop concert in Manchester in 2017, which killed 22 people. The exemption could potentially allow security services to avoid scrutiny and undermine the transparency that the bill aims to achieve.
Government Response to Criticisms
In response to the criticisms, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that he wants to get the bill right for families that have been let down without jeopardizing national security. He has said that the government is trying to find a balance between ensuring transparency and protecting national security. A government spokesperson has also stated that the intelligence agencies would be more scrutinized than ever before under the bill. However, campaign groups and lawmakers remain skeptical, arguing that the exemption could still allow security services to avoid scrutiny and undermine the bill’s purpose.
Background to the Hillsborough Disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was one of the worst stadium disasters in the world, resulting in the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans. A report in December found that 12 mostly senior former police officers would have had cases to answer for gross misconduct. However, no officer has been convicted in criminal cases for their handling of the disaster. The disaster has had a lasting impact on the families of the victims and the wider community, and the proposed bill is seen as an important step towards achieving justice and transparency.
Campaign Group Response
The campaign group Hillsborough Law Now has stated that the government and surviving families agreed that any amendment should not risk national security. The group has welcomed the pause in the vote, saying that it gives the government a chance to listen further and agree on an amendment that prevents cover-ups by the intelligence services without changing existing national security safeguards. The group’s response highlights the importance of finding a balance between transparency and national security, and the need for the government to listen to the concerns of campaign groups and lawmakers.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the vote on the Hillsborough Law has highlighted the challenges of balancing transparency and national security. While the bill aims to ensure transparency from public officials, the exemption for security services has raised concerns that it could undermine the spirit of the bill. The government must now find a way to address these concerns and ensure that the bill achieves its purpose of providing transparency and justice for the families of the Hillsborough victims. The pause in the vote provides an opportunity for the government to listen to the concerns of campaign groups and lawmakers and to find a solution that balances transparency and national security.
