Manchester Arena families say MI5 must be fully included in new law on cover-ups
Families affected by the Manchester Arena bombing are calling on the government to ensure MI5 is fully covered by a new law designed to stop public cover-ups. The "Hillsborough Act" is being created to force public officials to tell the truth during investigations into major disasters. It follows years of campaigning by families of the 97 people who died in the 1989 football stadium tragedy.
However, families of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester attack fear that the security services are being given a way to avoid these new rules. A public inquiry previously found that MI5 missed a significant chance to stop the arena bomber and later provided an inaccurate picture of what they knew. In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, bereaved relatives asked why MI5 should be "allowed to escape" the same standards of honesty expected of everyone else.
Campaigners argue that while the government promised the law would apply to the intelligence agencies, a hidden clause has been added to the draft bill. They say this clause would protect individual officers from being held personally responsible if they lie. Lawyers for the families say that if the law only applies to the organisation as a whole, rather than the people working there, nothing will change. They believe individual officers should face criminal charges if they hide the truth.
The government insists it is still listening to feedback on how to improve the law while also protecting national security. They claim the new legislation will end the "culture of cover-ups" for all public servants. But for families like those of Kelly Brewster, who died in the bombing, the lack of honesty from MI5 has "added insult to injury." They are urging the Prime Minister to keep his promise and ensure that no part of the state can hide its failures from the public.
