MERSEYSIDE MPs have requested a Commons adjournment debate about the persistent public Hillsborough tragedy slurs.

And politicians including Steve Rotheram, Maria Eagle, Derek Twigg and Stephen Twigg ratified their demand for under-fire Sport Secretary Jeremy Hunt to apologise in the House for his statement that the 1989 disaster was caused by hooliganism.

The Speaker of the Commons selects an adjournment debate at random from a list of suggestions from MPs.

With most Merseyside MPs lending their support to the idea, the chances of a public forum in Parliament about the incorrect public statements about the tragedy in which 96 Reds fans died, is thought to be high.

This week new Walton MP Rotheram signalled to the government that Mr Hunt’s written apology was not enough.

He said: “On a point of order, Mr Speaker, have you or your office been notified as to whether the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport will be coming to the House to apologise for the distress that his unacceptable comments about the Hillsborough disaster have caused to the families of the 96 who died, and to people right across the political and football divide?”

The Speaker replied: “In response I would say that the remarks – which I am neither justifying nor condemning – were not made in the House.

“He has made a public apology and the question of whether he seeks to make an apology or any other comment in the House is a matter for him.”