Calls to strip ex-MP of honour

A former Conservative MP named as one of the sources behind The Sun's controversial coverage of the Hillsborough tragedy today said he was "deeply and sincerely sorry" for the part he played in the scandal.

Sir Irvine Patnick said he had been given "wholly inaccurate" information by some members of the police and was "appalled" at the extent of the cover-up surrounding the disaster.

But the former Tory MP for Sheffield Hallam said he "totally" accepted responsibility for repeating the information, which led to the tabloid newspaper's notorious front page story headlined The Truth.

An MP said that police officers and other officials who were recognised with an honour following the Hillsborough disaster but implicated in the cover-up should be stripped of their awards.

In a question to Commons Leader Andrew Lansley, the SDLP's Mark Durkan (Foyle) said:

Mr Lansley said he would ask a Government colleague to write to Mr Durkan if the committee decided to review honours handed out to those involved.

David Cameron's official spokesman said any decision on whether former Conservative MP Sir Irvine Patnick would have his knighthood stripped would be a matter for the independent Forfeiture Committee.

The Daily Telegraph has been criticised on Twitter after they decided not to put the Hillsborough report on the front page of the newspaper.

The Conservative MP Ben Gummer has criticised the apology from former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie over the paper's "The Truth" front page in 1989:

Labour MP John Mann has written to David Cameron calling for the Forfeiture Committee to strip former Tory MP Tory Sir Irvine Patnick of his knighthood for his role in reporting of the events of the Hillsborough disaster.

The Hillsborough Independent Panel described his testimony as one of the sources of "despicable untruth" that vilified the victims. John Mann MP said:

"The shameful and disgusting behaviour of Sir Irvine Patnick is a significant feature in the Hillsborough independent Panel Report and his knighthood should be removed immediately.

"David Cameron should now do the right thing and take the necessary steps to do this.

Fred Goodwin brought the honours system in to disrepute and we now know that Sir Irvine Patnick has done the same and appropriate action should be taken”.

An editorial comment in today's Sun newspaper reiterates The Sun's sorrow at its mistake:

The front page of tomorrow's The Sun leads with the headline, 'THE REAL TRUTH'.

It says that "cops smeared Liverpool fans to deflect blame" and that the newspaper is "profoundly sorry for false reports".

In a video posted on The Sun's website, its current editor, Dominic Mohan, responded to today's Hillsborough report and said the newspaper had "made a terrible mistake" in publishing "an inaccurate and offensive story about the events at Hillsborough".

Mr Mohan added: "We're deeply ashamed and profoundly sorry".

He also said that the newspaper had co-operated fully with the Hillsborough Independent Panel and will publish reports of its findings in Thursday's newspaper.

He concluded by saying: "We will also reflect our deep sense of shame."

Video courtesy: thesun.co.uk

Responding to today's Hillsborough report, The Sun's Editor Dominic Mohan, said: