Paul Nuttall's press officer takes responsibility for Hillsborough fiasco
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Paul Nuttall's press officer has taken the blame and offered to resign over damaging false claims that he “lost close personal friends” at Hillsborough.
The UKIP leader was forced to admit the claim posted twice on his website was wrong after he was challenged during an interview with Radio City Talk in Liverpool.
“I haven’t lost a close personal friend, I’ve lost someone who I know,” he told presenter Dave Eason, adding: “I haven’t put that out, that is wrong.”
Now his press officer, Lynda Roughley, has said she was "entirely responsible" in a late-night statement issued on her behalf by Ukip.
She offered to resign - but that offer is believed to have been turned down, a Ukip source said.
Ms Roughley's statement said: “Paul is a man of great integrity and would not say something he knew to be untrue. It’s me who has made this mistake, and one I feel absolutely terrible about.
“I am frankly mortified at the distress this issue has caused Paul and may have caused to anyone involved with the Hillsborough tragedy.
“I have today offered my resignation. I could not be more sorry.”
Mr Nuttall faced a storm yesterday over the claim, which was made in two separate posts on his website.
The first in 2011 said "close personal friends of mine" were among the 96 Liverpool FC fans who died in the 1989 stadium crush.
(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
The second in 2012 said: "I lost close friends at the match and understand as well as anyone how deep the scars of that tragedy go."
Despite Ms Roughley's statement last night only referring to "the website post", a Ukip spokesman today said it referred to both the posts from 2011 and 2012.
In a separate statement last night, Mr Nuttall said he was “appalled” when he found out what had happened but he did not write the web posting.
“This was an article that I did not write and did not see prior to it being posted by a member of my staff,” he said.
(Photo: Radio City Talk)
(Photo: Radio City Talk)
“Of course I take responsibility for those things that are put out under my name, but I was genuinely taken aback when this claim was brought to my attention and am both appalled and very sorry that an impression was given that was not accurate.”
Mr Nuttall is trying to wipe out Labour's 5,000 majority and become Stoke-on-Trent Central's new MP in a crunch by-election next week.
He has angrily hit out over an article in The Guardian which aired doubts over his claim that as a 12-year-old fan he was present in the stadium when the disaster happened.
Previously he has also denied responsibility for claims he was a footballer for Tranmere Rovers and had a PhD.
Police were investigating after Mr Nuttall listed a house in Stoke as his address before moving in.