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Labour MPs criticise Ed Miliband for posing with Sun Ed Miliband says sorry after posing with The Sun
(35 minutes later)
Labour MPs in Liverpool have criticised Ed Miliband after he posed with a copy of the Sun newspaper. Ed Miliband has apologised for any offence caused after he posed with a copy of the Sun newspaper.
The Labour leader was pictured holding a special edition of the paper which was sent to millions of homes free to mark the start of the World Cup.The Labour leader was pictured holding a special edition of the paper which was sent to millions of homes free to mark the start of the World Cup.
Postal workers in Liverpool refused to deliver the paper in protest at its coverage of the Hillsborough disaster. Labour MPs have criticised their leader for associating himself with the paper, which has long been criticised for its reporting of the Hillsborough disaster.
Labour MP Steve Rotheram said Mr Miliband made a mistake and the city's mayor said it was offensive. Mr Miliband said he "understood the anger" felt on Merseyside about it.
The Liverpool Echo reported that Mr Miliband had apologised to Labour MPs but the BBC has not yet been able to confirm this. Groups representing victims and survivors of the 1989 tragedy expressed anger at Mr Miliband's actions, one describing them as an "absolutely disgrace".
But the Labour leader insisted that he had participated in the photo shoot to show his support for the England football team.
In a statement, a spokesman for the Labour leader said: "Ed Miliband was promoting England's bid to win the World Cup and is proud to do so.
"But he understands the anger that is felt towards the Sun over Hillsborough by many people in Merseyside and he is sorry to those who feel offended.
Mr Miliband, David Cameron and Nick Clegg all posed with copies of the Sun, the UK's best selling newspaper.Mr Miliband, David Cameron and Nick Clegg all posed with copies of the Sun, the UK's best selling newspaper.
About 22 million copies of the newspaper's Thursday edition were delivered free to UK homes.About 22 million copies of the newspaper's Thursday edition were delivered free to UK homes.
The promotional offer, one of the largest in recent newspaper history, was designed to draw attention to the paper's coverage of the World Cup and its support for the England team.The promotional offer, one of the largest in recent newspaper history, was designed to draw attention to the paper's coverage of the World Cup and its support for the England team.
The paper's front page carried pictures of hundreds of football fans under the headline 'This is our England'.The paper's front page carried pictures of hundreds of football fans under the headline 'This is our England'.
'Sensitive time''Sensitive time'
The move has caused anger in Liverpool, at a time when inquests are being held into the deaths of 96 Liverpool football supporters at Hillsborough in 1989.The move has caused anger in Liverpool, at a time when inquests are being held into the deaths of 96 Liverpool football supporters at Hillsborough in 1989.
The Sun has long been scorned in Liverpool for its coverage of the tragedy, after which it criticised the behaviour of Liverpool fans, suggesting they had robbed and urinated on victims and attacked police officers attending to the injured.The Sun has long been scorned in Liverpool for its coverage of the tragedy, after which it criticised the behaviour of Liverpool fans, suggesting they had robbed and urinated on victims and attacked police officers attending to the injured.
In 2012, it published a "profound" apology for what it said was an "inaccurate and offensive" report.In 2012, it published a "profound" apology for what it said was an "inaccurate and offensive" report.
Mr Rotheram said he and other Labour MPs had met Mr Miliband on Thursday to discuss the matter. Steve Rotheram, MP for Liverpool Walton, said he and some of his colleagues had met Mr Miliband on Thursday to discuss the matter.
"Ed will make a statement on the matter. He never meant any offence, but in my opinion it shouldn't have happened in the first place," he tweeted. "He never meant any offence, but in my opinion it shouldn't have happened in the first place," he tweeted.
The Labour mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said many people would feel "insulted" by Mr Miliband's actions.The Labour mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said many people would feel "insulted" by Mr Miliband's actions.
"Like everybody in this City I am really hurt and offended by Ed Miliband's's support for The Sun newspaper," he said. "Such clear support for that publication at any time would be wrong but at such a sensitive time is deeply shocking." "Like everybody in this City I am really hurt and offended by Ed Miliband's support for The Sun newspaper," he said. "Such clear support for that publication at any time would be wrong but at such a sensitive time is deeply shocking."
"For the leader of the Labour Party to make such an offensive gesture insults not only me but every person in the city."For the leader of the Labour Party to make such an offensive gesture insults not only me but every person in the city.
"This is just another example of how out of touch the politicians in their ivory towers are from the lives of ordinary people.""This is just another example of how out of touch the politicians in their ivory towers are from the lives of ordinary people."
'Hoodwinked''Hoodwinked'
Writing on Labour list, Labour MP Tom Watson suggested the Labour leader had been taken in by the newspaper. Writing on Labour list, Labour MP Tom Watson suggested the Labour leader had been "hoodwinked" by the newspaper.
"Things were going well up until the point yesterday, when the cheeky spin doctors hoodwinked poor Ed into holding a promotional copy of the Sun," he said. "Scouse friends with accompanying passionate vernacular said that we had scored an 'own goal'." he wrote
"Scouse friends with accompanying passionate vernacular said that we had scored an 'own goal'."
He added: "It's not easy being leader of the opposition. There is always a conga line of trouble waiting at your office door. You're never far away from disagreement.He added: "It's not easy being leader of the opposition. There is always a conga line of trouble waiting at your office door. You're never far away from disagreement.
"And in those tiny moments of rest between the ennui of shadow cabinet meetings, there's a helpful spin doctor who can press a promotional copy of The Sun into your hands. "And in those tiny moments of rest between the ennui of shadow cabinet meetings, there's a helpful spin doctor who can press a promotional copy of The Sun into your hands."
"I hope Ed managed to get home in time to have a beer and watch the Brazil game last night, if only to take himself away from from Twitter, overflowing with discommoded Labour party supporters, many of whom had spent the day sellotaping up their letterboxes." Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group - which represents 75 families - said she could not believe the pictures of the three party leaders and suggested "common sense should have prevailed at a very sensitive time for the families".
And Barry Devonside, of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, said it is "an absolute disgrace that the leader of the Labour Party got involved".
'Badly advised''Badly advised'
The Sun backed Labour under Tony Blair but withdrew its support before the 2010 election, angering many Labour MPs.The Sun backed Labour under Tony Blair but withdrew its support before the 2010 election, angering many Labour MPs.
Mr Miliband has had a strained relationship with Rupert Murdoch, The Sun's proprietor, after leading calls for tougher press regulation in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.Mr Miliband has had a strained relationship with Rupert Murdoch, The Sun's proprietor, after leading calls for tougher press regulation in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.
The Liverpool Echo quoted a Labour spokesman saying Mr Miliband had been "supporting England's bid to win the world cup".
"He totally understands the anger that the people of Merseyside feel towards The Sun over Hillsborough and fully supports the demand for justice for the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy," it said.
Mr Clegg has also been urged to apologise by a Lib Dem councillor in Liverpool for an "error" of judgement in associating himself with the paper's offer.Mr Clegg has also been urged to apologise by a Lib Dem councillor in Liverpool for an "error" of judgement in associating himself with the paper's offer.
"I have emailed Nick's advisors to ask what was he doing," Richard Kemp said. "I am particularly surprised at Nick Clegg, as Hillsborough is in his constituency.""I have emailed Nick's advisors to ask what was he doing," Richard Kemp said. "I am particularly surprised at Nick Clegg, as Hillsborough is in his constituency."
He added: "I think he has been badly advised. He is not evil or stupid and I hold his advisors more responsible."He added: "I think he has been badly advised. He is not evil or stupid and I hold his advisors more responsible."
A Conservative Party source described reports of Mr Miliband's apology as an "extraordinary gaffe" that was "proof that Ed Miliband is a weak leader who lacks moral conviction". A Conservative Party source described Mr Miliband's apology as an "extraordinary gaffe" that was "proof that Ed Miliband is a weak leader who lacks moral conviction".