Clegg supports release of Hillsborough papers uncut

The Deputy Prime Minister said it was “important” that relevant papers should be released but said families must see the documents before they are put into the public domain.

His comments will offer some assurance to campaigners who have been fighting for years for the documents to be released in order to give families of the 96 victims the true story of what happened at the Sheffield stadium in 1989.

Next Monday MPs will debate the issue after an internet petition demanding the papers be published attracted more than 100,000 signatures. Although the Government insists it will not block the release of the documents it has sparked unease by seeking to block a ruling by the Information Commissioner that they should be released immediately rather than waiting for them to be assessed by an independent panel set up under Labour and given to families first.

Questioned by Barnsley Central Labour MP Dan Jarvis as to whether he supported the release of “all, unredacted and uncensored Government documents” over the tragedy, Mr Clegg said: “Yes I very much do. It is very important we get to see all the relevant papers.”

But he added: “It seems to me we should first allow the families who are still grieving for their loss in that terrible, terrible tragedy, to be able to look at those papers before they are fully published.”

Campaigners have long demanded the release of documents showing how then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet responded to the disaster at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the stadium.

The previous Government set up an independent panel, headed by Bishop of Liverpool the Right Rev James Jones, which is studying the documents and deciding how they should be released. Police, fire and local authority papers are also being opened up.

The coalition Government insists it is committed to releasing the papers, which families hope will explain what happened.

But the petition was launched after the Cabinet Office said it would appeal against a ruling by Information Commissioner Christopher Graham that the papers should be made public in response to a Freedom of Information request from the media. The Cabinet Office wants the documents disclosed to families first.

Speaking after raising the issue, Mr Jarvis said: “I’m delighted the Deputy Prime Minister has had the guts to do the right thing. I hope the Prime Minister will follow suit and support the release.

“We must remember that the most important and most heartbreaking fact is that the families of the 96 people that died on that day 22 years ago are still waiting for answers. That can’t be right.

“It’s not about the egos of David Cameron or Margaret Thatcher; it’s about finally getting some form of justice for the families, and politicians should be held accountable.”

By last night the petition had attracted 139,455 signatures calling for “full government disclosure and publication of all documents, discussions and reports relating to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster”.

In response, the Government said: “The Government has confirmed its commitment to full transparency about the Hillsborough disaster through full public disclosure.

“All papers had previously been shared with the Hillsborough Independent Panel. The Government is happy for all the papers, including Cabinet papers, to be released as soon as the Panel so decides, in consultation with the families.”