Hillsborough Law delayed again as Government rows back on 'delivered in days' suggestion

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The Government has rowed back on its suggestion the Bill, named after 97 Liverpool fans who were unlawfully killed, would be back before MPs next weekThe passage of the landmark Hillsborough through Parliament, has been delayed once again, with the Government appearing to row back on the Bill returning to Parliament before the summer break. It comes a day after (July 8) reports suggested the contrary, with David Lammy saying he was under pressure to ensure the security services were subject to its “duty of candour”.The Deputy Prime Minister told the Commons that he was “confident” it would be back before MPs in the next week as he was asked about reports by the BBC that MI5 had covered up for an agent who had attacked his girlfriend with a machete and was “obsessed” with violence.Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said MI5 had given false evidence to courts to protect the agent, who has not been identified.

The proposed law had previously stalled over concerns it would not apply to the intelligence agencies.The Hillsborough Law, formally known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, will require public officials to tell the truth during inquiries and investigations. And will he use his position to bring back a full Hillsborough Bill next week to cover the security services, so we can pass the law before the summer recess?”Mr Lammy, standing in for Sir Keir Starmer during the Nato summit in Ankara, responded: “She raises a very serious issue, of course, and I will arrange for Beth to meet with the security minister to discuss this in detail.

She also raises the Hillsborough Bill and I’m confident that this will be before the House in the coming days.”However, the Government has now rowed back on the Hillsborough law returning to Parliament before the summer.Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell instead told MPs today (July 9), he hopes it will be back “soon”.The law, formally known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, will require public officials to tell the truth during inquiries and investigations. It was promised by Labour in its 2024 manifesto but has faced lengthy delays.Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrats’ chief whip, told the Commons she was “disappointed” that Mr Lammy’s comments “were not accurate”.Responding, Sir Alan said: “I don’t believe that the Deputy Prime Minister did say something which was inaccurate, because we are doing all we can to get the Hillsborough Bill across the line.“If that means that we can bring it sooner rather than later, then that will be our intention.”Both Sir Keir, and Andy Burnham - who is expected to be Labour’s next leader – have previously spoken of their support for the Bill.It was brought forward during the last parliamentary session and “carried over” to ensure it could pass after Parliament was prorogued.Last year, the Government faced a row after proposing amendments that would see spies brought within the scope of the law, but only with the approval of the head of their services.Campaigners warned this could be used as a way of escaping the new “duty of candour” and the amendments were pulled.