The official page about the NSC

According to their website, the NSC is the main forum for the collective discussion of the government’s objectives for national security. GCHQ participates in this forum along with a wide range of relevant departments. It is charged with examining more specific national security areas and overseeing and co-ordinating all aspects of Britain’s security.  The Prime Minister is advised by the head of the NSC secretariat, the National Security Adviser, who is responsible for co-ordinating and delivering the government’s international security agenda.

A key purpose of the Council is to ensure that ministers consider national security in the round and in a strategic way. The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister.

ANDY BURNHAM'S LABOUR PARTY CABINET 2026?

If Cabinet‑level officials were briefed on unlawful conduct by a local authority and police — and then knowingly allowed or encouraged a wrongful prosecution to protect those authorities — that would constitute criminal wrongdoing. Depending on the facts, it could amount to:

- Misconduct in public office
- Perverting the course of justice
- Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
- Aiding and abetting criminal acts
- Misfeasance or malfeasance in public office
- Human rights violations (Article 6: right to a fair trial)

The UK constitution does not give ministers immunity for knowingly facilitating criminal acts. But now let’s unpack the structure so you can see exactly where the legal lines sit.


1. Could Cabinet be briefed on local authority wrongdoing?

Yes — but only in specific circumstances.

Cabinet ministers (especially Home Secretary, Justice Secretary, Levelling Up Secretary) may be briefed on:

- systemic failures in policing
- corruption risks
- safeguarding failures
- national‑security implications of local authority misconduct
- politically sensitive legal exposures

However, they are not supposed to be briefed on — or involved in — operational policing or individual prosecutions. 
That is a constitutional firewall. If they were briefed on an unlawful cover‑up, the correct response would be:

- refer to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
- refer to the Local Government Ombudsman
- refer to the Crown Prosecution Service
- initiate an internal Cabinet Office investigation
- notify the Attorney General if criminality is suspected

Anything else would be improper.


2. Could ministers deliberately avoid a paper trail?

Yes — this is a known practice for national‑security briefings. But it is not legitimate for criminal‑justice matters. 
If ministers knowingly avoid documentation to conceal wrongdoing, that is:

- abuse of office
- conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
- potentially criminal misconduct

The “oral briefing” convention does not apply to covering up local authority crime.


3. The conspiracy theory scenario: local authority + police colluding to frame an innocent man

Let’s break this down carefully. If a local authority:

- knowingly ignored planning crime
- colluded with police to avoid investigation
- fabricated allegations
- framed an innocent person
- caused wrongful imprisonment

Then the offences include:

i) Misconduct in public office
ii) Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
iii) False representation / fraud
iv) Malfeasance
v) Human rights violations
vi) Civil liability for damages


This is exactly the pattern seen in the Post Office Horizon scandal, where: investigators concealed evidence, prosecutors ignored exculpatory material, senior officials allowed wrongful convictions, ministers were not properly briefed, and institutional self‑protection trumped justice

The conspiracy theory scenario (alleged) is not far‑fetched — it is structurally similar.


4. If Cabinet knew and did nothing

This is the critical point. If Cabinet ministers were briefed that:

a) a local authority and police force were committing criminal acts
b) an innocent person was being prosecuted
c) the prosecution was being used to cover up corruption
d) and they knowingly allowed it to proceed, then:

They would be committing criminal offences. Specifically:

- Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
- Aiding and abetting misconduct in public office
- Failure to prevent crime (post‑2023 reforms)
- Breach of ministerial code (not criminal but career-ending)
- Potential civil liability for damages

There is no constitutional protection for ministers who knowingly facilitate injustice.


5. Why this matters

The UK's (unwritten) constitution relies heavily on:

- trust
- convention
- ministerial integrity
- independent policing
- prosecutorial independence

When those fail — as Horizon proved — innocent people can be destroyed by institutional self‑protection.

The alleged scenario is not a conspiracy theory. It is a plausible institutional failure mode within the UK governance structure.

Corruption lurks in every corridor of local and national buildings.

SECRETARIAT

Growth and Living Standards

Prime Minister (co-Chair)
Chancellor of the Exchequer (co-Chair) 
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Deputy Chair)

Terms of Reference: To consider matters relating to economic growth and the improvement of living standards.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


Public Services

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Chair)
Chancellor of the Exchequer 
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Secretary of State for Education, and Minister for Women and Equalities
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

Terms of Reference: To consider matters relating to improving the population’s experience of public services.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


Domestic and Border Security

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Chair)
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice 
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government 

Terms of Reference: To consider matters relating to improving domestic security, including safety and cohesion within local areas, and secure borders.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


National Security Council

Prime Minister (Chair)
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Defence
Attorney General

Terms of Reference: To consider the strategic approach to national security, foreign policy, resilience, international relations, economic security, trade, development, defence and global issues.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


National Security Council (Nuclear)

Prime Minister (Chair)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Terms of Reference: To consider matters around nuclear deterrence and nuclear security. 

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


National Security Council (Resilience)

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Chair)
Chancellor of the Exchequer 
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Defence 
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Terms of Reference: To oversee implementation and delivery of resilience matters.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


Middle East Response Committee 

Prime Minister (Chair)
Chancellor of the Exchequer (Deputy Chair)
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Terms of Reference: To consider the international and domestic response to events in the Middle East.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


Europe

Prime Minister (Chair)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Deputy Chair)
Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Attorney General
Paymaster General, and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Relations)

Terms of Reference: To consider matters related to European affairs.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


Union and Constitution

Prime Minister (Chair)
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor, and Secretary of State for Justice
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Deputy Chair)
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords
Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Attorney General
Paymaster General, and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Relations)

Terms of Reference: To consider matters related to the Union and constitutional reform.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


Home and Economic Affairs

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Chair)
Chancellor of the Exchequer 
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Paymaster General, and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Relations)

Terms of Reference: To consider matters relating to home and economic affairs, including the implementation and delivery of domestic policy.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


Digital and Technology

Prime Minister (Chair)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Deputy Chair)
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Terms of Reference: To consider matters related to digital transformation and technology.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda.


Parliamentary Business and Legislation

Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons (Chair)
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Attorney General
Paymaster General, and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Relations)
Lords Chief Whip (Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms)
Advocate General for Scotland

Terms of Reference: To consider matters related to the Government’s parliamentary business and delivery of the legislative programme, and prepare proposals for future legislative programmes.

Other Ministers will be invited according to the agenda. 


Contingencies (COBR)

In general the Chair will be taken by the Secretary of State of the Government Department with the lead responsibility for the particular issues being considered, a Cabinet Office Minister, or the Prime Minister. Ministers will be invited according to the agenda. The devolved administrations, local government, officials, and representatives from external stakeholders may be invited to attend depending on the emergency.

Terms of Reference: To consider the response to national emergencies, including plans for the protection of life, the continuity of everyday activity and the restoration of disrupted services. Where required, to consider the protection of UK interests overseas and support to British nationals.

REFERENCE

https://www.gchq.gov.uk/information/national-security-council

https://www.gchq.gov.uk/information/national-security-council