Two mothers who lost their children in the Manchester Arena terror attack have made an emotional plea for the government's proposed Hillsborough Law to apply without exception to the security services.
An Emotional Appeal on National Television
Lisa Rutherford and Caroline Curry appeared on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, to speak directly about their ongoing fight for transparency. Lisa's 17-year-old daughter, Chloe Rutherford, and Caroline's 19-year-old son, Liam Curry, were among the 22 people killed when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a device at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.
"Our lives are completely shattered and never to be the same again," Lisa told presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay. The mothers were speaking ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside families affected by the Hillsborough disaster, to discuss the forthcoming legislation.
The Crucial Fight for a Full 'Duty of Candour'
The proposed Hillsborough Law, officially named the Public Office Accountability Bill, would place a legal duty on public officials and authorities to tell the truth during investigations into major disasters. It was a key pledge in Labour's 2024 election manifesto.
However, its progress has hit a significant hurdle. The bill's third reading in Parliament, scheduled for that day, was postponed to the following week amid concerns over whether it would fully apply to individual members of security and intelligence agencies like MI5 and MI6.
BBC correspondent Tim Muffett outlined the context, noting that after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, police spread false narratives and withheld evidence. Similarly, the Manchester Arena inquiry found that MI5 had not presented an accurate picture of events and provided a false narrative about intelligence on the bomber prior to the attack.
"We are now asking [the Prime Minister] to keep that promise in full by ensuring the new law applies to the security and intelligence agencies in the same way it applies to everyone else," Muffett said, referencing a recent letter from five Manchester families to the PM.
Government Response and Families' Resolve
When pressed by Jon Kay on whether MI5 and MI6 must be included for the law to be effective, Lisa Rutherford was unequivocal: "Absolutely, yes, there's no doubt."
Presenter Sally Nugent read out the government's official statement in response: "This will apply to all public officials, including those in the intelligence services. We've listened to campaign groups and brought forward amendments to strengthen this while never compromising national security."
The mothers emphasised they were there to support the Hillsborough Law and ensure the Prime Minister heard their perspective, forged through the painful experience of sitting through lengthy inquiries. As the segment concluded, the human cost of the tragedy remained at the forefront, a stark reminder of why the families continue their campaign for unwavering honesty from those in power.
