Government moving ahead with amendment vote for Hillsborough Law that families and campaigners say they cannot support
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne at the Hillsborough memorial
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne at the Hillsborough memorial(Image: )
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Families of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster are now urging Members of Parliament to vote against the government in a crucial vote on the landmark Hillsborough Law on Monday amid a row that is threatening the legitimacy of the historic legislation.
The new law aims to introduce a duty of candour on public officials, with criminal sanctions if they are found to have lied or misled the public. Sir Keir has repeatedly pledged to bring in the new law and has said it will not be watered down.
But a major row has developed over what campaigners have called a "carve out" for the intelligence and security services following an amendment put forward by the government. Families and campaigners say this would effectively exempt organisations like MI5 from the duty of candour, meaning the head of that service could decide when information should or should not be revealed.
The government insists the duty of candour will apply to intelligence services, but says there is a delicate balance to strike to protect national security.
The issue resulted in a key vote on the Hillsborough Law - known as the report stage - being delayed from Wednesday of this week to Monday next week, allowing time for families and campaigners to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to hear their concerns.
But that meeting ended without resolution and the ECHO understands that the government will be proceeding with its security services amendment on Monday, which will not have the support of the Hillsborough Law campaign.
Liverpool West Derby Labour MP Ian Byrne, a Hillsborough survivor and the parliamentary lead for the campaign, has presented an alternative amendment to the government's and is now urging fellow MPs to vote in favour of his ammendment as it has the support of the families and campaigners.
He told the ECHO today: "My stance at this stage is that we are looking at getting as many names on my amendment as possible.
"We want people to reject the government amendment and vote for this one.
"This is something that has given me sleepless nights, to go into the lobby and vote against the name of a Hillsborough Law.
"The Prime Minister has the power, the gift to determine if this legislation is passed and can truly be called a Hillsborough Law. I will be speaking to MPs this weekend and telling them the truth, this is the last place I wanted to be in the world."
He added: "I wanted to go into Parliament and welcome the Hillsborough Law, but I can't do that because the families don't support it as things stand.
"It's an awful position to be in. It feels like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. But I have got to represent my feelings and the campaign and make sure their voices are heard."
Charlotte Hennessy, whose dad James was unlawfully killed at Hillsborough, said she will be unable to support the government's bill as it stands and is urging people to back Ian Byrne's amendment.
She told the ECHO: "I didn't want to be in this position and I don't want this to take away from all of our hard work.
"We have worked collaboratively with the Prime Minister and his team and what we have achieved in 95% of this bill is amazing.
"However, we were always very clear that we could not and would not leave anyone behind. We're not willing to do that.
"I completely support Ian Byrne, he has been pivotal in this journey and I back him 100% and I would urge every MP and every person who wants to stop cover ups to write to their MPs and back Ian's amendment.
"I am really disappointed that it has come to this, but this is not from us not trying, the Prime Minister has really tried, we are just so sorry it has come to this."