Culture Minister Slammed For Hillsborough Comments

A former minister branded Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s remarks on the Hillsborough disaster a "disgrace" in the Commons today.

Labour’s Derek Twigg said relatives of the 96 people killed in the April 1989 incident were "deeply distressed" by Mr. Hunt’s comments.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the judicial inquiry into the disaster had been "absolutely clear" that no Liverpool supporters were to blame and she agreed to meet representatives of the families.

Mr. Hunt’s remark came during an interview about England’s poor performance in the World Cup.

He said he was "incredibly encouraged by the example set by the England fans. I mean, not a single arrest for a football-related offence, and the terrible problems that we had in Heysel and Hillsborough in the 1980s seem now to be behind us".

He later apologised to Liverpool fans and the families of those killed and injured. The 96 fans died and hundreds more were injured after a crush developed in the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

During Commons question time, Mr. Twigg (Halton) told Mrs. May: "You will be aware of the comments by the Culture Secretary this morning linking the Hillsborough disaster to football hooliganism - this is a disgrace.

"I’ve just recently spoken to some of the families who lost loved ones at Hillsborough - they’re deeply distressed by this and angry about what’s happened.

"How can they have trust in the Government that they will see through the proper release of the Hillsborough files given that that’s the view held in high parts of the Government?"

He asked Mrs. May to meet "urgently" Mr. Hunt and the families of those killed to discuss the matter.

The Home Secretary pointed to Mr. Hunt’s apology, adding: "The judicial inquiry was absolutely clear on this point - the Taylor Report cleared Liverpool supporters of any allegations they were to blame for the terrible events that took place at that time.

"The families of those who sadly lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster have conducted a very dignified campaign over the years to try to ensure that the information is released and that they are able to see all the details of what happened at that time.

"I have already met the Bishop of Liverpool to discuss the work that his panel is doing in looking at these issues. I would indeed be happy to meet representatives of the Hillsborough families."

Lord Justice Taylor’s official inquiry into the disaster, which reported in 1990, criticised senior police officers on duty at the match for a "failure of control" and recommended the introduction of all-seater stadiums.

A group set up to study previously secret documents relating to the Hillsborough tragedy met for the first time in February.

The Hillsborough Independent Panel, led by the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Rev James Jones, will oversee the public disclosure of archives held by the emergency services, the city council and other public bodies in Sheffield.