By David Gold
August 24 – An e-petition calling the British government to release files relating to the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy has passed the 100,000 mark, meaning the House of Commons business committee must consider putting it forward for discussion in Parliament’s lower chamber.
The Government introduced the new e-petition system last month and any petitions reaching the landmark must be referred for debate in the Commons.
The Hillsborough petition, which was created by Brian Irvine from the Liverpool fansite This is Anfield, is only the second to pass the 100,000 mark.
It calls for “Full Government disclosure and publication of all documents, discussions and reports relating to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster” as requested by information commissioner Christopher Graham, and has reached more than 113,945 signatures at the time of writing.
The Hillsborough disaster was one of the most harrowing tragedies in recent football history, and resulted in the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans, who were crushed to death as the stadium became overcrowded prior to an FA Cup semi final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
It indirectly led to the conversion of most English stadiums into all seater venues.
The files that have been requested for release include conversations then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher held with her cabinet, with supporters keen to find out more information about the government’s response to the incident.
Graham adjudicated on a freedom of information request from the BBC for the files and ruled that they should be released, which the Cabinet Office announced they would be appealing against last week, triggering the petition, as they believe that an independent panel should decide what information to release.
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