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Miliband hails regional daily’s Hillsborough campaign

Labour leader Ed Miliband praised the Liverpool Echo for its ‘Justice for the ’96’ Hillsborough campaign as a devastating report laid bare the extent of the cover-up over the tragedy.

A report by an independent panel found that police and ambulance service statements were doctored in an attempt to deflect blame for the 1989 disaster which claimed 96 lives.

Prime Minister David Cameron today apologised on behalf of the nation to the families of the victims, saying he was “profoundly sorry” for what had happened.

And responding to his comments in the House of Commons, Mr Miliband highlighted the work done by the Echo in keeping the families’ 23-year fight for justice on the political agenda.

Said Mr Miliband:  “Without the efforts of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, and Hope for Hillsborough, the truth would have remained hidden. And we would not be here today.

“And I also commend the work of the Liverpool Echo who kept the campaign going.”

The Trinity Mirror-owned daily today published a special edition on the report, which revealed that 59 of the 96 victims could have been saved had the emergency services acted more swiftly.

The special edition, which will contain nine pages of reports and reaction, will be in the shops by 5pm.

Full on-the-day coverage of the report and Mr Cameron’s Commons statement was also provided by the Shropshire Star, one of the few regional dailies which still has an early afternoon print edition.

Editor Keith Harrison said: “The Shropshire Star’s coverage of the cover-up of the truth surrounding the Hillsborough disaster shows we are a proper evening newspaper, breaking the latest stories and providing our readers with today’s news, today.”

Keith was also among several leading regional journalists took to Twitter this afternoon to give their personal responses to the report’s findings.

He said:  “Time for Sun and Mackenzie to get down on their knees and beg forgiveness. They’ve nothing left to lose.”

Former Derbyshire Times editor Nicola Megson commented: “The Sun has an opportunity tomorrow.  Don’t blow it.”

And South Wales Argus boss Kevin Ward, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, tweeted:  “If anybody ever wondered why #lfc fans never let this go, now you know.”

3 comments

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  • September 12, 2012 at 3:39 pm
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    Great. But who cares what a couple of editors tweeted?

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  • September 12, 2012 at 3:54 pm
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    It will be interesting to see if the newspapers which printed the disgraced allegations at the time have anything to say about that tomorrow.

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  • September 18, 2012 at 10:29 am
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    I think the ‘SUN’, or should that read the ‘SCUM’, newspaper should be shut down and all those who lied, year on year on year, should be jailed for 23 years apiece. Nothing on this scale has shamed our police service, our politicians and our newspapers as much as this disgusting travesty. Well done to the Hillsborough families and I wish them every luck in their further pursuit of justice against the liars.

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