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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ed Miliband apologises for endorsing the Sun's World Cup issue | Ed Miliband apologises for endorsing the Sun's World Cup issue |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ed Miliband has apologised for agreeing to be pictured holding a special World Cup issue of the Sun. | Ed Miliband has apologised for agreeing to be pictured holding a special World Cup issue of the Sun. |
| The picture angered people in Liverpool, where the paper has been subject to a boycott ever since its controversial coverage of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. | The picture angered people in Liverpool, where the paper has been subject to a boycott ever since its controversial coverage of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. |
| Liverpool's Labour mayor, Joe Anderson, issued a statement highly critical of Miliband: | Liverpool's Labour mayor, Joe Anderson, issued a statement highly critical of Miliband: |
| "My city was offended and insulted by the lies and smears peddled by The S*n and their hindrance to our fight for justice is something that will never be forgotten. | "My city was offended and insulted by the lies and smears peddled by The S*n and their hindrance to our fight for justice is something that will never be forgotten. |
| 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. |
| It begs the question - were the comments he made after the Hillsborough panel report sincere or just sound bites?" | It begs the question - were the comments he made after the Hillsborough panel report sincere or just sound bites?" |
| Miliband was also confronted by a number of Labour MPs, including Steve Rotheram, the member for for Liverpool Walton. | Miliband was also confronted by a number of Labour MPs, including Steve Rotheram, the member for for Liverpool Walton. |
| According to a source cited by the Liverpool Echo, Miliband apologised to the MPs. The source is quoted as saying: "Ed Miliband said he was very, very sorry." | According to a source cited by the Liverpool Echo, Miliband apologised to the MPs. The source is quoted as saying: "Ed Miliband said he was very, very sorry." |
| Some people went further. Liverpool councillor Peter Mitchell said: "Being a survivor of Hillsborough and having been in the cage behind the goal in Leppings Lane I have never been so appalled in my life of having seen the photo of Ed Miliband holding the Sun. | Some people went further. Liverpool councillor Peter Mitchell said: "Being a survivor of Hillsborough and having been in the cage behind the goal in Leppings Lane I have never been so appalled in my life of having seen the photo of Ed Miliband holding the Sun. |
| "He should be thoroughly ashamed of his actions. I think he should consider his position as leader of Labour party." | "He should be thoroughly ashamed of his actions. I think he should consider his position as leader of Labour party." |
| A spokesperson for Miliband said he was "supporting England's bid to win the World Cup" [rather than the paper]. | A spokesperson for Miliband said he was "supporting England's bid to win the World Cup" [rather than the paper]. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Labour MP Tom Watson claimed that Miliband had been hoodwinked by spin doctors into posing for the picture. He pointed out that Twitter had been "overflowing with discommoded Labour party supporters" who had sealed off their letterboxes to avoid receiving the Sun's free issue. | Labour MP Tom Watson claimed that Miliband had been hoodwinked by spin doctors into posing for the picture. He pointed out that Twitter had been "overflowing with discommoded Labour party supporters" who had sealed off their letterboxes to avoid receiving the Sun's free issue. |
| However, according to a report on politics.co.uk, Miliband's agreement to pose for the Sun may be part of an attempt to win the paper's approval. | However, according to a report on politics.co.uk, Miliband's agreement to pose for the Sun may be part of an attempt to win the paper's approval. |
| Last month, he took part in an interview the Sun cabbie in advance of the European elections. He has also written for the Sun on Sunday. | |
| Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem deputy prime minister, has also been criticised by his party's members in Liverpool for similarly posing with the paper. | |
| The Sun has distributed 22m copies of the issue to every English household – except for Liverpool – over the past two days. | The Sun has distributed 22m copies of the issue to every English household – except for Liverpool – over the past two days. |
| A Sun spokesman said: "The Sun wants to thank Ed Miliband for having his picture taken and cheering on England to #DoUsProud in Brazil. The free edition of the Sun is an unashamedly positive celebration of Englishness, and it should come as no surprise that politicians on all sides are happy to get behind our uplifting message. | A Sun spokesman said: "The Sun wants to thank Ed Miliband for having his picture taken and cheering on England to #DoUsProud in Brazil. The free edition of the Sun is an unashamedly positive celebration of Englishness, and it should come as no surprise that politicians on all sides are happy to get behind our uplifting message. |
| "This project has shown once again why the Sun is the nation's biggest newspaper and at the forefront of innovative journalism that delights, entertains and employs hardworking people across the country." | "This project has shown once again why the Sun is the nation's biggest newspaper and at the forefront of innovative journalism that delights, entertains and employs hardworking people across the country." |
| The Sun's managing editor, Stig Abell, told BBC4's PM programme: "We were conscious of the sensitivity in Liverpool, which is why we didn't deliver it on Merseyside. | |
| "The Sun recognises that [the Hillsborough coverage] was the biggest mistake in the paper's history. We accept that and don't expect forgiveness. | |
| "But we were celebrating Englishness in a light-hearted way and celebrating the World Cup. It had a positive feeling." | |
| He rejected the claim that it was wrong to have recruited party leaders to pose for pictures. | |
| Sources: Liverpool Echo/Politics.co.uk/BBC | Sources: Liverpool Echo/Politics.co.uk/BBC |