A LEGAL duty on security services to deliver the truth over scandals such as the Hillsborough disaster is "vital" for campaigning families, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has said.

A new law, now making its way through Parliament, will see a Duty of Candour placed of public officials and authorities.

It takes its name from the 1989 stadium crush in Sheffield, which led to the death of 97 football fans.

The law means officials must act with honesty at all times, or face criminal sanctions, to prevent cover-ups seen in Hillsborough as well as the Horizon and Infected Blood scandals.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin at BBC Broadcasting House in London, after her appearance on the BBC One current affairs programme, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Picture date: Sunday January 18, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Lucy North/PA Wire

placeholder image — Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin at BBC Broadcasting House in London, after her appearance on the BBC One current affairs programme, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Picture date: Sunday January 18, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Lucy North/PA Wire

But amid warnings from campaigners and backbench Labour MPs that this pledge is being watered down, the Culture Secretary has issued a firm statement.

Security services will not be "exempt" from the Hillsborough Law, Lisa Nandy has said.

The challenge, she added, was to "make sure that this applies to the security services without fear or favour” and that they can “continue to do their jobs”.

Amendments proposed by the Government last week had brought spies within the scope of the legislation, subject to the approval of the head of their service.

However, campaigners have argued this would allow those running the security services to decide whether to disclose information.

The mayors of Liverpool and Manchester have now called on the Government to withdraw this amendment to the Bill that “creates too broad an opt-out” for the security services.

Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said on Saturday that it “risks undermining the spirit of the legislation”.

And West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, said that duty of candour regarding the security services was “vital” for families who have campaigned for the Hillsborough Law

Ms Brabin told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that the legislation was “95 per cent there” but “without the trust and confidence of the families it’s going to be very difficult”.

The Labour mayor said: “I think the duty of candour is so vital for the justice for these families that have been fighting for decades.

"You can do it privately with a judge. There are ways to do it.”

Ms Brabin added: “This is a historic landmark piece of legislation, it’s really worth leaning in to get it right.”

Some campaigners have warned that a draft version of the legislation – formally known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill – might allow intelligence chiefs to “hide serious failures behind a vague claim of national security”.

But Ms Nandy told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “I just want to be really clear, the security services won’t be exempt.”

She added that it was important to “never ever end up in a situation like we did with the Manchester Arena inquiry” where “security services are able to withhold information and present an inaccurate picture to families and to a public inquiry for a very long time”.