DAVE Watts last night demanded during the House of Commons Hillsborough debate that the former editor of The Sun, Kelvin MacKenzie, finally apologises for the “terrible stories” the newspaper printed about Liverpool supporters following the disaster.
The Labour MP for St Helens North was speaking during an emotionally charged debate that was triggered by an online petition signed by 140,000 people.
The Government has vowed to release all documents relating to the 1989 disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died, after MPs backed a motion calling for full disclosure.
Watts, whose friend David Hawley, from Thatto Heath, died in the disaster aged 39, said: “We need all the media outlets to source information that they used in the days after the tragedy.
“It is crucially important that information is put on public record and we know why they wrote such terrible stories about Liverpool supporters and the disaster.
“But one man stands out – Kelvin MacKenzie. Quite frankly all other media outlets now know their stories were irresponsible and not true.
“One man has still not made that apology. Quite frankly he should make an apology tomorrow and if he doesn’t every other media outlet in the country should completely ban him and never give him the time again.”
The St Helens MP explained to MPs how he had lost “one of his good pals” in the tragedy just weeks after they had been reunited.
Watts said: “We grew up together, we went to the pubs and clubs together and to the match together, but unfortunately I lost contact with Davey for many years.
“I didn’t make contact with him until couple of weeks before the tragedy. He walked up to me and we recognised each other.
“We arranged to meet (but) unfortunately we never got chance to have that drink and remember the old days because the next contact I had with him was unfortunately at his funeral.”
He told the Commons he vividly remembers his friend’s funeral and the tributes paid by relatives and representatives of Liverpool Football Club.
Watts added: “I had a lot of admiration for him and I’m sorry we didn’t have that last drink.”
Watts said the debate had “proved” there were “people responsible for the problems that arose” on that fateful day 22 years ago.
He said: “Those problems and mistakes were made by the police, the emergency services and the football authorities – and many other groups of people.
“I don’t think anyone can identify that this was the fault of football fans.”
Watts praised the families of the 96 people who died and Liverpool fans around the world for the way they had fought for justice. He also thanked the football club and manager Kenny Dalglish for supporting the campaign.
Home Secretary Theresa May has insisted that all the material will be made public with only select details held back.
She said all Government documents - including Cabinet minutes - would be handed over to the independent panel set up by the former Labour government to review the papers for public release.
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