Andy Burnham letter to Prime Minister on release of Hillsborough disaster documents
Dear Prime Minister
RELEASE OF CABINET PAPERS ON THE HILLSBOROUGH DISASTER
You will know of the deep scars left on Liverpool and its people by the Hillsborough Disaster and its aftermath.
In the 22 years since the tragedy, the Hillsborough families have faced countless obstacles, insults and setbacks as they have pursued their dignified campaign for justice and the full truth.
In recent times, however, they have found grounds for some hope in the cross-Party support for the establishment of the Hillsborough Independent Panel.
As you know, the Panel's role is to oversee a process of full disclosure and report on how this might add to public understanding of the tragedy and its aftermath. Though set up by the last Government, we have been greatly encouraged by the current Government's commitment to it.
It is impossible to overstate the importance of the Panel's task to the people of Liverpool, and the exemplary way in which they have gone about their work has helped build public confidence.
However, we are worried that the progress made is now at risk.
Yesterday, the Cabinet Office announced its decision to appeal against the Information Commissioner's ruling on the release of Cabinet papers relating to Hillsborough. We have been moved to write to you by a genuine concern that this is the wrong decision. It could undermine public confidence in this process and raise questions over whether the Government and other public bodies are genuinely committed to full disclosure.
We appreciate the Government's preference to co-ordinate disclosure of all documents through the Panel, not least so that we can ensure the families have first sight of them. However, it has to be recognised that the situation has been changed by the Information Commissioner's ruling. We note assurances from the Government that the Panel will 'have access' to the material concerned. However, this is not the same as publication.
Our purpose in writing to you is to urge you to intervene in this situation, overrule this decision and accept the Commissioner's ruling in full, giving a clear commitment that all material will be published in full. Rather than pursuing its challenge, the Government should now work with the Panel to draw up a proposal for publication that can be discussed with the Information Commissioner and the requesting party. In any scenario, it is vital that the families affected have first sight of information to be disclosed.
We recognise that the documents in question represent only a small part of the overall story. In time, the Panel will have to consider them alongside the many thousands of other public documents and records as it puts all the pieces together.
We wish to stress to you that this letter is not motivated by any party political considerations. We do not know what these documents will reveal. Our only motivation here is to fulfil promises made to the families that have suffered so much down the years to secure the full truth. We believe that this is shared by the many thousands of people who have signed the online petition calling for full disclosure over the course of today.
Last year, when the Bloody Sunday Inquiry reported, we recall how your dignified response helped to heal the wounds of the people of Derry. We now ask you to do the same for the people of our city and its surrounding region.
Yours sincerely
Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Maria Eagle MP
Steve Rotheram MP
Stephen Twigg MP
Luciana Berger MP
Joe Benton MP
Bill Esterson MP
David Watts MP
Rt Hon Shaun Woodward MP
Derek Twigg MP
Alison McGovern MP
(Source: David Bartlett on 18th Aug, Liverpool Daily Post)
