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Manchester Arena families say MI5 must be fully included in new law on cover-ups.
Families bereaved by the Manchester Arena bombing say MI5 failed them and must be fully included in a new law designed to stop cover-ups in public life.
In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, seen by the BBC, they ask the prime minister: "How many times must MI5 show that it cannot be trusted before something is done?"
MI5 was found by a public inquiry not to have given an "accurate picture" of the key intelligence it held on the suicide bomber who carried out the attack which killed 22 people and injured hundreds on 22 May 2017.
The "Hillsborough Law", making its way through Parliament, follows campaigning by families affected by the 1989 Hillsborough disaster that claimed 97 lives.
Police leaders were found to have spread false narratives about that disaster, blaming Liverpool fans, and withheld evidence of their own failings.
The new law will force public officials to tell the truth during investigations, including those into major disasters.
But a director of the campaign behind the new law told the BBC he has been "misled" by the government during negotiations over how it will apply to the intelligence services.
The government said: "We are listening to feedback about how to strengthen [the law] whilst also protecting national security."
Known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, the new law has three pillars:
The first establishes a general duty of candour on all public officials, meaning they will be required to tell the truth proactively in their working life
The second is an ancillary duty of candour that applies to official investigations, which includes inquiries and inquests
The third is set to re-balance funding for legal representation for state bodies and victims during inquiries
The bill would create criminal sanctions for breaches in the duty for candour.
Labour's manifesto for the 2024 general election said: "Labour will introduce a 'Hillsborough Law' which will place a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities".
Speaking last year, Sir Keir said the new legislation would change "the balance of power in Britain" to ensure the state could "never hide from the people it is supposed to serve".
But barrister Pete Weatherby KC, director of Hillsborough Law Now (HLN) campaign group, told the BBC the government had "misled" him during negotiations over how the law will apply to MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.
He represented victims' families during the landmark Hillsborough inquests a decade ago and has played a central role in making the new law a reality.
He also represented families bereaved by the Manchester Arena attack during the public inquiry into that atrocity, during which MI5 was criticised for giving a false account.
Weatherby said the "government have tried to put forward measures relating to intelligence services which look better than they are, and we've ended up in a position which certainly wasn't the position that we negotiated with them".
He said it was a "major problem" and "very disappointing".
He said HLN accepts there are some caveats that will apply to MI5 and the intelligence services, as the prime minister himself has said.
During the Manchester Arena public inquiry, and an earlier official review, MI5 provided a false narrative about intelligence it received about the suicide bomber before the attack.
The public inquiry chairman concluded that the statements had not presented an "accurate picture". He also found MI5 missed a significant opportunity to take action that might have prevented the attack.
Families bereaved by the Manchester Arena bombing say MI5 failed them and must be fully included in a new law designed to stop cover-ups in public life.
In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, seen by the BBC, they ask the prime minister: "How many times must MI5 show that it cannot be trusted before something is done?"
MI5 was found by a public inquiry not to have given an "accurate picture" of the key intelligence it held on the suicide bomber who carried out the attack which killed 22 people and injured hundreds on 22 May 2017.
The "Hillsborough Law", making its way through Parliament, follows campaigning by families affected by the 1989 Hillsborough disaster that claimed 97 lives.
Police leaders were found to have spread false narratives about that disaster, blaming Liverpool fans, and withheld evidence of their own failings.
The new law will force public officials to tell the truth during investigations, including those into major disasters.
But a director of the campaign behind the new law told the BBC he has been "misled" by the government during negotiations over how it will apply to the intelligence services.
The government said: "We are listening to feedback about how to strengthen [the law] whilst also protecting national security."
Known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, the new law has three pillars:
The first establishes a general duty of candour on all public officials, meaning they will be required to tell the truth proactively in their working life
The second is an ancillary duty of candour that applies to official investigations, which includes inquiries and inquests
The third is set to re-balance funding for legal representation for state bodies and victims during inquiries
The bill would create criminal sanctions for breaches in the duty for candour.
Labour's manifesto for the 2024 general election said: "Labour will introduce a 'Hillsborough Law' which will place a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities".
Speaking last year, Sir Keir said the new legislation would change "the balance of power in Britain" to ensure the state could "never hide from the people it is supposed to serve".
But barrister Pete Weatherby KC, director of Hillsborough Law Now (HLN) campaign group, told the BBC the government had "misled" him during negotiations over how the law will apply to MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.
He represented victims' families during the landmark Hillsborough inquests a decade ago and has played a central role in making the new law a reality.
He also represented families bereaved by the Manchester Arena attack during the public inquiry into that atrocity, during which MI5 was criticised for giving a false account.
Weatherby said the "government have tried to put forward measures relating to intelligence services which look better than they are, and we've ended up in a position which certainly wasn't the position that we negotiated with them".
He said it was a "major problem" and "very disappointing".
He said HLN accepts there are some caveats that will apply to MI5 and the intelligence services, as the prime minister himself has said.
During the Manchester Arena public inquiry, and an earlier official review, MI5 provided a false narrative about intelligence it received about the suicide bomber before the attack.
The public inquiry chairman concluded that the statements had not presented an "accurate picture". He also found MI5 missed a significant opportunity to take action that might have prevented the attack. -
That statement was disgusting (but to be honest not surprising)Originally posted by ChesterDave View PostLeave a comment:
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"opinion dressed up as fact".
Just call it a lie then, ffs, still trying to cover it up
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The chief executive of a police body has apologised for a statement issued after a report into the Hillsborough disaster was published.
The report by the watchdog Independent Officer for Police Conduct (IOPC) concluded 12 officers involved in the response to the tragedy - which led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium - would have faced charges of gross misconduct if they were still serving.
In a statement, shared after the report's findings were published, South Yorkshire Police Federation said it was "opinion dressed up as fact".
more on link
SYP really is just utterly awful.Leave a comment:
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I know, it was sick! That was ‘98 under Blair’s government. I think the Merseyside Police Authority, made up of local councillors would have been responsible for the appointment which makes it even less comprehensible!Originally posted by frank the tank View PostYeah read about that on guardian website too.
Nobody will ever be held accountable. Not by official law channels anyway.
Will never get my head around how Bettison became head of Merseyside police afterwards. That is sick.
Based on the outcomes of the various investigations, is there not a civil route for interested parties to go after these *******s personally and ruin their lives? I’d be up for contributing to a fund to do that.Leave a comment:
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Yeah read about that on guardian website too.
Nobody will ever be held accountable. Not by official law channels anyway.
Will never get my head around how Bettison became head of Merseyside police afterwards. That is sick.Leave a comment:
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Tip of the iceberg
Twelve ex-police officers would have faced gross misconduct cases over the Hillsborough disaster, a long-awaited report from the policing watchdog finds
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I never knew this.
[ame]https://twitter.com/nickyallt/status/1015239750058500101[/ame]Leave a comment:
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Starmers government have blocked the second reading of the Hillsborough law bill as put forward by Ian Byrne MP. Nothing on the BBC...
Starmer and his lap dogs have turned the Labour Party into tory light.
This party no longer has any connection with the average person in the street, they are just there for their own self interests, career politicians out for what they can grab. Shame on them all.
Last edited by baitman; 11-07-25, 05:25 PM.Leave a comment:
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R.I.P 97
And here's to true justice for them, their families and loved ones.Leave a comment:
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36 years later and still the closing ranks to protect themselves.
Get a law in place ASAP so they can't weasel out of punishing police for willfully altering statementsLeave a comment:
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