'Secret' inquest bid axed from Bill

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Ministers withdrew clauses from the Bill which would have allowed the Government to remove juries and the press from inquests if it was thought in the public interest.

The Government claimed the powers were needed to prevent sensitive information falling in to the public domain.

But opponents, such as the families of military personnel killed in battle, said the change could be used to restrict access to important information about how their loved ones died.

Ministers said they would push ahead with the plans but introduce them in future legislation.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Both the House of Commons and House of Lords have expressed a strong desire to debate the coroners' proposals within the context of wider coronial reform. We will therefore be removing the proposals from the Counter Terrorism Bill and bringing them forward again in legislation to reform the coroner system more widely.

"The Government recognises that in a very small number of cases of inquests a change to the law may be required to enable inquests to go ahead where highly sensitive material is relevant."

A spokesman for the charity Inquest said: "Deaths in custody and those involving issues of national security raise important issues of state power and accountability and should be subject to particularly close scrutiny in a free and democratic society."

The Tories welcomed the move. Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "The counter-terrorism bill was no place for debating this extremely controversial measure, which should be in the Coroners Bill.

"It is vital that the independence and transparency of the coroners system is maintained - not undermined."