verb

use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.

the government have equivocated too often in the past

prevaricate,be evasive,be non-committal,be vague,be ambiguous,evade/dodge the issue,beat about the bush,hedge,hedge one’s bets,fudge the issue,fence,parry questions,vacillate,shilly-shally,cavil,waver,quibble,temporize,hesitate,stall (for time),shuffle about,hum and haw,pussyfoot around,waffle,sit on the fence,duck the issue/question,flannel,palter,tergiversate