Miliband offers Hillsborough survivor “sincere” apology over Sun photo

Ed Miliband has met with Hillsborough survivor and Liverpool councillor Peter Mitchell to apologise for posing with a copy of The Sun last week.

Following complaints from Labour members and supporters who were outraged over Miliband’s decision to pose with the paper, Cllr Mitchell – who said he was thinking about leaving the Labour party in protest – met with the Labour leader on Monday afternoon.

After the talks, Cllr Mitchell said has decided to remain a member of the party. Talking to the Liverpool Echo, he explained why:

“I spoke to Ed as a councillor and as a Hillsborough survivor. I was in the Leppings Lane end at Hillsborough and I spoke to him about my experiences and the 96 people that died around me. I spoke to him about my personal feelings.

I told him that The Sun blamed the fans and I got the feeling of injustice across to him. I gave him the thoughts of Jamie Horrocks, who is the son of Arthur Horrocks who died at Hillsborough. Ed was left in no doubt of our views.

Ed was moved and upset. He was very sincere and he apologised. He apologised again. He was genuinely sorry and contrite for what he did. He upset an awful lot of natural Labour supporters by his actions and it’s a lesson learnt by him and his aides. I think he was badly advised.

He said that it would not happen again. I don’t think he will pose with it again. I absolutely believe that he won’t promote or pose with The Sun again.”

Although Miliband’s decision to engage in the publicity stunt was undoubtedly a mistake, Cllr Mitchell said that he still believed in Labour: “I believe that we can make a difference from within and go out to win the General Election next year.”