DOWNING Street last night insisted David Cameron was misunderstood after comments about the Hillsborough tragedy sparked a Westminster row.

No 10 said his words – in which he likened the exhaustive search for the truth to “a blind man, in a dark room, looking for a black cat that isn’t there” – were meant to express “sympathy”.

A spokesman said: “The Prime Minister’s comments were not in any way meant to cause offence and he clearly regrets if they have.

“His intention was quite the opposite – he was expressing his sympathy for how hard it can be to find closure in coming to terms with grief.”

But Merseyside Labour MPs, led by Wavertree’s Luciana Berger, insisted only a full apology and a withdrawal of the comments – made to the Daily Post at a Westminster lunch – would be acceptable to the Hillsborough families.

Ms Berger, during Prime Minister’s questions, urged Mr Cameron to “apologise to the relatives and friends of the 96 victims for these grossly offensive comments”.

On Monday, Mr Cameron insisted it was wrong to liken the 1989 tragedy to the inquiry into Bloody Sunday, which culminated in a landmark apology in the Commons.