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* A PETITION has been launched urging full disclosure of all government documents relating to 1989 Hillsborough disaster - Liverpool FC manager Kenny Dalglish has been urging people via Twitter to sign it (see below). You can add your own signature to it here - you must click the link in email you will receive from epetitions to complete the process

THE Government has appealed against an order for it to release the hidden files detailing Margaret Thatcher’s thoughts about the Hillsborough disaster.

Earlier this month, the Information Commissioner said the confidential reports about the discussions the then-Prime Minister had in the aftermath of the 1989 tragedy should be made public as soon as possible. But the Cabinet Office believes the papers should go to the Hillsborough Independent Panel and the families of victims before they are put out for wider viewing.

If released now, the papers – said to include reports presented to the Prime Minister and correspondence with home secretary Douglas Hurd – would be published before the findings of the independent panel.

The Information Commissioner’s decision came after a BBC request for the papers under the Freedom Of Information Act was turned down by Downing Street in December, 2009.

Yesterday, the final day an appeal could be lodged, the Cabinet Office announced it will challenge the ruling.

A spokesman said: "The Government’s view is that it is in the public interest for the process which is under way through the Hillsborough Independent Panel to be allowed to take its course.

"The terms of reference for that process includes the intention to disclose information to the Hillsborough families first.

"The Cabinet Office absolutely agrees with the principle of providing information to families about the Hillsborough stadium disaster but we believe it is important any release of information should be managed through the panel’s processes and in line with their terms of reference.

"The Cabinet Office is fully committed to the disclosure process, in line with the terms of reference, and is working with the panel to achieve that. The panel has had access to all the information covered by this decision notice."

Margaret Aspinall, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "All we are concerned about is that the independent panel is supposed to be doing the job it is doing. We are happy with the way it is progressing at the moment."

Information Commissioner Christopher Graham said he did "not agree that the existence of this panel is a relevant factor because it did not exist at the time of the request".

Mr Graham also said the passage of 20 years since the information was recorded was a key factor.

A total of 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush at Hillsborough during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

An inquiry found overcrowding was due to the failure of police control.

* VOICE of the ECHO: Thatcher Hillsborough files must be seen