0h 19min, jan 18, 2026 y - Govt. Pulls Hillsborough Law Debate

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The government has abandoned a final debate on its Hillsborough Law following a backlash from campaigners and some Labour MPs over the extent to which it would apply to intelligence officers.

The proposed legislation creates a legal obligation for public authorities to co-operate with and tell the truth to inquiries.

But a government amendment would have made co-operation by intelligence officers with inquiries subject to the approval of the head of their service.

Bereaved families say MI5 and MI6 officers should be fully subject to the proposed law and point to a series of cases where MI5 has provided false information.

The government had originally pulled just the amendment from a vote, due to be held on Monday, before it scrapped the entire third reading of the bill - when a draft law is tidied up before going to the Lords.

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