Campaigners call for 'no exceptions' for intelligence agencies when Hillsborough Law comes into force
Campaigners have warned there must be "no exceptions" for security services from the duty of candour under the proposed Hillsborough Law.
It comes as the remaining stages of Hillsborough Law have been pushed back until next week amid concerns about how the duty of candour to be brought in would not apply to security services including MI5 and MI6.
The so-called Hillsborough Law - the Public Office (Accountability) Bill - will force public officials and contractors to tell the truth in the aftermath of disasters.
It takes its name from the Hillsborough disaster, after which families campaigned for years to get to the truth behind what caused the death of 97 football fans as a result of a crush at the FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield in 1989.
The Bill was due to come before MPs today and was expected to clear the final stages in the Commons, but Downing Street confirmed it had been pushed back to next week.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The Hillsborough Law will change the balance of power in Britain and put a legal duty on officials, including those in the intelligence services, to respond openly and honestly when things go wrong.
"Since we introduced the Bill, we've worked with the families to make this duty as strong as it can possibly be whilst never compromising on national security.
"This Government will not bring forward legislation that would put the national security of the UK or lives at risk.
"On Friday, we brought forward a series of amendments to address concerns that the Bill did not apply to individual employees of the intelligence agencies.
"But we're determined to get this right."
Campaign Group Hillsborough Now said the delay is welcome if it fixes issues with the Bill.
It 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.
"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."
Caroline Curry, whose son Liam died in the Manchester Arena attack, said there must be no exceptions to the candour duty.
She said: "Hillsborough Law must happen in its entirety, it must include every service, no exceptions.
"MI5, MI6 and GCHQ are as high up the chain as you can get so why would any other service feel they needed to tell the truth when those at the top are exempt? Lead by example is what we've always believed."
A solicitor for a group of those bereaved by the Manchester Arena attack and Hillsborough disaster said the law must be delivered in full.
They said: "A Hillsborough Law must be enacted without dilution, without loopholes and without exemptions.
"No public authority should ever be allowed to place itself above the duty of candour, transparency and justice.
"The findings in the Manchester Arena inquiry showed exactly why the security services must not be above the law."
Commons leader Sir Alan Campbell told MPs the debate set for today had been shelved and that the new amendments would strengthen the Bill.
He said: "We do continue to listen to stakeholders on all sides of the debate to ensure that our amendments strike the careful balance that is required, and where necessary make changes.
"For that reason, I decided that we would move the Bill from tomorrow to next Monday.
"I'm not going to provide a running commentary on what those changes might be."