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Call for Prime Minister to apologise over Hillsborough Call for Prime Minister to apologise over Hillsborough
(about 1 hour later)
The prime minister has been called upon to apologise for failures surrounding the Hillsborough tragedy as the House of Commons debated the release of all documents relating to the disaster. The prime minister has been called on to apologise for failures surrounding the Hillsborough tragedy.
Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram was backed in the call by shadow health secretary Andy Burnham who said there had been a campaign to blame the fans. MP Steve Rotheram, who opened a Commons debate on the release of papers relating to the tragedy, said there had been a campaign to blame fans.
Ninety-six fans were died in the disaster in April 1989. Home Secretary Theresa May said the government supported the release of the papers.
Ninety-six fans died in the disaster in April 1989.
The debate was sparked by 140,000 people signing an e-petition.The debate was sparked by 140,000 people signing an e-petition.
Mr Rotheram, whose Walton constituency includes Liverpool's Anfield ground, said David Cameron had delivered a Commons apology to the victims of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry and called on him to do the same for those affected by Hillsborough.Mr Rotheram, whose Walton constituency includes Liverpool's Anfield ground, said David Cameron had delivered a Commons apology to the victims of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry and called on him to do the same for those affected by Hillsborough.
'Look for scapegoats''Look for scapegoats'
"I call on the prime minister to make a statement in this house and apologise for the mistakes that were made and the mishandling of this whole tragedy on behalf of a previous government," he said."I call on the prime minister to make a statement in this house and apologise for the mistakes that were made and the mishandling of this whole tragedy on behalf of a previous government," he said.
The Labour MP attacked the "smears" and "establishment cover-up" which led to fans initially being blamed for the disaster.The Labour MP attacked the "smears" and "establishment cover-up" which led to fans initially being blamed for the disaster.
He said the tragedy was "exacerbated by what happened next." "Instead of those at fault taking responsibility for their actions, a co-ordinated campaign began to shift the blame and look for scapegoats". He said: "Instead of those at fault taking responsibility for their actions, a co-ordinated campaign began to shift the blame and look for scapegoats.
He told the Commons "nobody has been held to account for Hillsborough" and the debate would not be long enough to examine the full details of the "gross, 22-year injustice" "It is claimed that truth is the first casualty of war, but the same can be said of Hillsborough," he said.
"Misdirection, obfuscation and damned lies were all used as smokescreens to deflect attention away from the guilty.
"Institutional complacency and gross negligence, coupled with an establishment cover-up, have added to the sense that this was an orchestrated campaign to shift blame from those really responsible on to the shoulders of Liverpool fans."
Mr Rotheram attacked claims that Liverpool fans had turned up late, without tickets and were drinking heavily.
'Lost control'
He said a "senior police officer and a Conservative MP" leaked stories to the press about the disaster.
He said the cause of the tragedy was clear from Lord Justice Taylor's report "which concluded that the police fundamentally lost control of the situation and did not demonstrate the leadership expected of senior officers".
Mr Rotheram said the "misinformation" began almost as soon as the match, a FA Cup semi-final tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, was abandoned on 15 April 1989.Mr Rotheram said the "misinformation" began almost as soon as the match, a FA Cup semi-final tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, was abandoned on 15 April 1989.
The match commander told the FA Liverpool fans had rushed a gate, creating the crush. "This disgraceful lie set the tone for all that came later," he said.The match commander told the FA Liverpool fans had rushed a gate, creating the crush. "This disgraceful lie set the tone for all that came later," he said.
'Victory for people' As campaigners looked on from the public gallery, he read out the names of the 96 who had died.
Mr Rotheram also criticised into the Sun newspaper over its "The Truth" headline and its story about drunken and criminal behaviour by Liverpool fans. Home Secretary Theresa May apologised for any anxiety caused by the decision to oppose a Freedom of Information request from the BBC but it was right that the families, and not the wider public, should receive the information first as they needed to be treated with "dignity and respect".
He added the debate was a "victory for democracy, a victory for people power but it remains to be seen whether it will be a victory for the families".
But he told fellow MPs: "It doesn't matter how long it takes, we will never stop fighting for justice for the 96."
He read out the names of all those died, as campaigners looked on from the public gallery.
He urged the Commons to support a backbench motion calling for the full, uncensored disclosure of government-related documents, including cabinet minutes, relating to the disaster.
Home Secretary Theresa May said the government now supports full disclosure of the Hillsborough documents.
She apologised for any anxiety caused by the decision to oppose a Freedom of Information request from the BBC but it was right that the families, and not the wider public, should receive the information first as they needed to be treated with "dignity and respect".
Mrs May said: "I will do everything in my power to ensure the families and the public get the truth.Mrs May said: "I will do everything in my power to ensure the families and the public get the truth.
"No government papers will be withheld from the panel, no attempts to suppress publication will be made, no stone left unturned.""No government papers will be withheld from the panel, no attempts to suppress publication will be made, no stone left unturned."
'Act of brutality''Act of brutality'
But she said there may be some redactions, including the names of some junior civil servants and the details of the victims' confidential medical files. The independent Hillsborough panel already has some cabinet papers, she said.
But she said there may be some "minor redactions", including the names of some junior civil servants and the details of the victims' confidential medical files, which would be a matter for the panel.
Mr Burnham, speaking for the opposition, said the disaster and the events following it, were "one of the biggest injustices of the 20th century".Mr Burnham, speaking for the opposition, said the disaster and the events following it, were "one of the biggest injustices of the 20th century".
He said moves to blame the victims for the tragedy were "unprecedented". He added: "It was an unbelievable act of brutality against the 96 fans."He said moves to blame the victims for the tragedy were "unprecedented". He added: "It was an unbelievable act of brutality against the 96 fans."
Mr Burnham also read from police papers which quoted an officer who watched as fans used advertising hoardings to ferry the injured.Mr Burnham also read from police papers which quoted an officer who watched as fans used advertising hoardings to ferry the injured.
A senior officer had written that the pages should be amended because "these are his own ­feelings" and said the comments showed "they were organised and we were not".A senior officer had written that the pages should be amended because "these are his own ­feelings" and said the comments showed "they were organised and we were not".
'National response' 'Huge moment'
Mr Burnham added: "After a tragedy on this scale, the denial of families rights and the denigration of their friends and fellow supporters is a national scandal.
"When the panel reports it will require an appropriate national response."
He said the House of Commons coming together behind the families of the 96 who had died was a "huge moment".He said the House of Commons coming together behind the families of the 96 who had died was a "huge moment".
Esther McVey, Conservative for Wirral West, said it was "time for action" and time for all the documents to be disclosed. Other MPs were then called to speak in the debate.
Among them were, Esther McVey, Conservative for Wirral West, who said it was "time for action" and time for all the documents to be disclosed.
Maria Eagle, Labour MP for Garston and Halewood, said Hillsborough was a unique case and so required a unique response.Maria Eagle, Labour MP for Garston and Halewood, said Hillsborough was a unique case and so required a unique response.
Clive Betts, Labour MP for Sheffield South East, who was at the game, spoke emotionally about the disaster. He said it was a tragedy for Sheffield and urged for all information to be made public.