Labour MP Luciana Berger has demanded David Cameron apologise for saying families who lost loved ones would never get over the 1989 Hillsborough Stadium tragedy.
He reportedly told a gathering of local newspaper journalists in the House of Commons last week: “It was this government that agreed to release the Hillsborough documents. Yet, every time I hear the word Hillsborough, I see Andy Burnham on the TV.”
When confronted over the issue at during PMQs on Wednesday, the prime minister failed to deny he had said the families were "like a blind man, in a dark room, looking for a black cat that isn’t there.”
Instead Cameron said his government gave the families the "closure that they seek".
Now Liverpool Wavertree MP Berger has written to Cameron to demand an apology. She said she was "deeply disappointed" with the prime minister: "David Cameron had ample opportunity to say sorry for making these offensive comments and seeking political gain. He chose not to. He should immediately apologise for the hurt he has caused the families and friends of the 96 people who tragically lost their lives at Hillsborough 22 years ago."
Last week the government pledged to release papers on Hillsborough following an emotional House Of Commons debate on the 1989 stadium disaster.
The full text of Berger's letter.
‘Your comments are deeply offensive to the families who lost loved ones twenty two years ago and continue to fight to find out the truth of what happened that day.
I am truly appalled that you are seeking political gain from the tragic deaths of 96 people. Complaining that you have not received enough credit for the release of government documents is abhorrent.
Today I offered you the chance to deny that you made all of these remarks. You did not. I gave you the chance to apologise to the victims’ families and friends for the hurt your comments have caused. You did not.
I ask you again to apologise and withdraw these grossly offensive remarks.’