00:00This is a law shaped by decades of campaigning from families who say the truth was withheld
00:05from them when they needed it most. The Hillsborough Law is intended to change how the state responds
00:11after disasters by placing a legal duty of candour on public officials. Formerly the Public Office
00:18Accountability Bill, it would require those involved in public services to respond openly
00:24and honestly when things go wrong. The government says that would prevent a repeat of past failures
00:30where families had to fight for years to uncover the truth. But controversy emerged after ministers
00:37tabled amendments that brought intelligence agencies within the scope of the bill,
00:42subject to approval by the head of each service. Campaigners, including the group Hillsborough Law
00:48now, argued that this could allow intelligence chiefs to decide what information is disclosed,
00:55potentially hiding serious failures behind claims of national security. In response to those concerns,
01:01the government has now withdrawn the amendment and removed the bill from its planned parliamentary
01:06timetable. Ministers say they are speaking directly with campaigners and bereaved families to agree a
01:12way forward. Campaigners welcomed the decision to pull the amendment. Hillsborough Law now says it would
01:19continue to engage with ministers to ensure the bill applies fully to the security services without
01:26jeopardising national security.
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