Sir Keir Starmer has been branded “too weak to lead” after U-turning on one of his landmark policies.
In what marks the third U-turn of 2026, after just 19 days, Labour has pulled an amendment at the centre of a bitter row over the Hillsborough law.
The Government has also removed the legislation from Monday’s parliamentary agenda entirely.
Bereaved families have long urged that the law – which aims to force public officials to tell the truth after disasters – applies in full to intelligence services.
It is officially called the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, and is meant to ensure authorities face prosecution if they try to cover up the facts behind disasters like Hillsborough.
On Wednesday, ministers suggested bringing spies inside the scope of the law, but Labour rebels warned this would not go far enough, and MI5 and MI6 would be able to conceal sensitive information – even though putting it out might put national security at risk.
Manchester and Liverpool mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram had warned the amendment “risks undermining the spirit of the legislation” and “creates too broad an opt-out” for the security services.
On Sunday, it emerged it was being pulled altogether – with Hillsborough families said to be unhappy with issues being ironed out in the Lords rather than the Commons.
One figure close to the talks told Sky News the situation was “absolutely mental”.
And new Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy said: “The Government is asking MPs to approve the Hillsborough law with a clause about its application to MI5, which it says it will replace in the Lords with… who knows what.
“Keir Starmer is too weak to lead his MPs – even on our national security.”
Tory frontbencher Alicia Kearns added that the Bill “has been complete disarray for the last 10 days”.
“We were offered an opposition briefing last Wednesday and just as we arrived they cancelled it,” she revealed.
As many as 30 Labour MPs had backed a proposal by Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne which would open the law up to spies.
Mr Byrne said after the amendment was shelved: “I think there’s been an acknowledgement that their amendment was heading for defeat, and thank God they’ve withdrawn it.”
“I won’t vote for any law to leave the Commons until myself and the families are happy with what it contains,” he told the BBC.
“I have spoken to some families, and they are absolutely firm that it has to be the full Hillsborough Law before it leaves the Commons.”
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‘Madness!’ NI veterans ‘to face hundreds of lawsuits under Labour’s Troubles Bill’
Labour’s proposed amendment to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill could expose veterans to a flood of around 800 lawsuits and cost the taxpayer millions, campaigners have warned.
The measure would strip away immunity protections that former soldiers currently enjoy – potentially dragging them before courts decades after operations conducted in service of the Crown.
The Conservative Government had shielded veterans from lawsuits through the Legacy Act – but Labour now intends to dismantle the safeguards through an amendment.
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Looking across the Atlantic… Keir Starmer to address the nation with Prime Minister organising emergency press conference
Sir Keir Starmer is set to address the nation with an emergency press conference on Monday.
The Prime Minister is set to tell Britain of his commitment to protecting their security, standards of living and future.
Sir Keir is expected to set out how Britain will work alongside its allies and how the country will be “led by our values”.
The emergency press conference comes amid a rift between Europe and the US over President Donald Trump’s threats to enforce tariffs until a deal is reached over the sale of Greenland.
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What was Keir Starmer’s promise on the Hillsborough law – and what does the Government say about it now?
In November, the PM promised that the law would leave a ‘legacy of justice, change and national renewal’ for the 97
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In November, the Prime Minister promised that the law would leave a “legacy of justice, change and national renewal” for the 97 people who died in the Hillsborough Stadium disaster.
“Hillsborough will always remain in our national consciousness for its tragedy and disgraceful injustice,” Sir Keir said at the time.
“But today it can also be remembered for the way it changed our country for the better. Because with this law, we are changing the balance of power in Britain and ensuring that the State can never hide from the people it is supposed to serve.”
Now, after the amendment was pulled, a Government spokesman has said: “This legislation will right the wrongs of the past, changing the balance of power to ensure the state can never hide from the people it should serve and putting a legal duty on officials to respond openly and honestly when things go wrong.
“The Bill will make the police, intelligence agencies and the whole of government more scrutinised than they have ever been. We must get this right to keep the country safe.
“We welcome continued support from victims and their families, making sure the Bill is the strongest it can possibly be while never compromising on national security.”