Liverpool-born MP Andy Burnham has revealed he was not consulted about Ed Miliband’s decision to pose for a photograph with a copy of the Sun.
The Shadow Health Secretary said Mr Miliband was right to apologise for the offence the picture caused, and said nothing in his own career will matter as much as his work on the Hillsborough campaign.
He told the House magazine: “I’m more and more confident that we’ll get justice for the 96. Okay, so 25 years late.
“It’s not justice as it should have been, but I’m confident we’ll get a form of justice. Which is no less than the families deserve.”
He added: “From my point of view, from a personal level, nothing I will ever do in my life will ever matter more to me than the privilege really of working alongside the families. So we’re with them all the way.”
When asked if he was consulted about Mr Miliband’s decision to be photographed holding the Sun, he said: “No…. I think he was right to apologise. That’s that, really.”
Mr Burnham, who stood against Mr Miliband for the Labour leadership, also called for the North West to get more benefits from HS2.
He said: “As I see it the North West is getting a huge amount of disruption, and nowhere near enough benefit to justify it. [HS2 chairman Sir David] Higgins has accepted that and said there are going to be changed to open up more benefits for the North West.”
When asked if he will vote for the legislation to make the multi-billion pound rail network a reality, he said: “I need to see what comes through. I voted for the principle of HS2.
“But I’m really clear that there need to be changes, and I think there are going to be changes, to minimise some of the destruction, maximise some of the benefits. So I need to see what some of those changes are.
“I do support it in principle, but you have to argue for your constituency don’t you?”
Hinting that Labour will unveil plans to limit the amount of sugar in cereals, he said: “[I am] not comfortable with the idea that any child in my constituency sits down at breakfast time to a bowl of food that is 38% sugar. And if people are comfortable with that, well I’m going to disagree with them.
“I don’t think any child should be regularly taking in sugar of that level.”
Describing the impact of breast cancer on his family and his wife’s decision to have a double-mastectomy, he said: “We’ve been through a real, terrible, hard journey. First her sister died, then her mum got it, her other sister got it, then her mum died.
“So we really had a terrible journey. But you’ve got to see the positives haven’t you?
“And the positive is that enabled her to get ahead of it, to be honest. It’s a sign of how times are changing; 10 years ago it wouldn’t have been possible. The genetic testing that was brought through made it possible.”
When asked if England will win the World Cup, he said: “Well, ‘no’ is the answer to that... I’ve got Argentina to win.
Ed Miliband showed 'genuine remorse' over Sun photo , says Hillsborough survivor and city councillor Peter Mitchell
Sun World Cup promo sent to family of the late Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams
Liverpool Labour councillor threatens to resign in protest at Ed Miliband’s support for The Sun
Jade Wright: Ed Miliband needs to do the decent thing and resign
Mayor Joe Anderson condemns Labour leader Ed Miliband for supporting The Sun
Watch: Former girlfriend of 17-year-old killed at Hillsborough disgusted at receiving the Sun in post
Watch: People burn, bin and post back unwanted copies of The Sun
Posties take a stand against bosses over delivery of The Sun
In pictures: Homes all over Britain show Hillsborough support and tell posties to bin The Sun
Mersey postmen refuse to join in The Sun's World Cup charm offensive
More stories and videos in our dedicated Hillsborough channel here
