THE injustice and lies at the heart of the Thatcher government’s mine closures will continue to be exposed, trade union GMB vowed yesterday.

Delegates at the its annual conference voted to press for a full public inquiry. 

Political officer and mining union NUM former national secretary Steve Kemp said: “Communities across the UK were devastated. We must leave no stone unturned so the public know what happened in that dispute.”

The union also called for the 30-year-rule for the publication of cabinet documents to be reviewed following revelations by recently released Thatcher-era papers.

A GMB congress statement said: “Despite the denials while in office and afterward, Thatcher and her henchman Ian MacGregor had discussed the closure of 70-plus mines with the loss of 50,000-plus jobs.

“Had the fact been known at the time, it would almost certainly have had a huge impact on the feelings of the general public.

“Congress therefore believes there is a solid case for reviewing the length of time that such important facts remain hidden.”