Liverpool Mayor launches stinging attack on Miliband over Sun photo

Ed Miliband’s decision to pose with a copy of The Sun has understandably angered many in Liverpool, considering how the paper has treated that city. Merseyside MPs are said to have been “livid” with the Labour leader – and Hillsborough campaigner Steve Rotherham has led them in expressing their concerns to Miliband’s office. However perhaps the strongest statement has come from Liverpool’s Labour Mayor Joe Anderson, who has not minced his words in a strongly worded statement:

“Like everybody in this City I am really hurt and offended by Ed Miliband’s support for The S*n ‘newspaper’ today. Such clear support for that publication at any time would be wrong but at such a sensitive time is deeply shocking.”

“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.

“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?”

Miliband has yet to react to the criticism, but The Liverpool Echo reports that Miliband “defended his decision saying he was simply showing support for the England squad and not the newspaper – which had ‘This is our England’ as the frontpage headline”.