ED MILIBAND caused distress and upset across Merseyside by posing with a copy of The Sun, says St Helens Council leader Barrie Grunewald.

Mr Miliband, the Labour leader, was photographed with a special edition of the tabloid that is being distributed free to mark the start of the England football team's World Cup campaign.

It sparked anger among Merseyside politicians - in particular the Mayor of Liverpool - in a region where there is still much anger over the slurs the tabloid placed on the city following Hillsborough.

In a statement Mr Miliband later apologised to those who felt offended by his actions, which were designed to promote England's World Cup challenge.

Speaking today, after earlier attending a meeting of the city region cabinet in Liverpool, St Helens Council leader Barrie Grunewald was more reserved in his remarks than some of his colleagues but spelled out that Miliband's "mistake" had caused significant distress.

Cllr Grunewald said: “This is a deeply distressing time for the families of the Hillsborough tragedy as the inquests continue into the events of that sad day.

"I do not believe Ed Miliband would have wanted to cause upset or distress but clearly by posing with a copy of the Sun, he has done so.

"The strength of feeling across Merseyside is well justified, given the actions of the Sun over a number of years. The paper smeared Liverpool fans and carried out a campaign of lies against the city and her people.

“Ed Miliband has apologised and recognises it was a mistake – we all can make mistakes - and I think he will realise the depth of feeling across Merseyside and would be surprised if he repeated it again.

“The important thing in all of this is that of the families, the quest for Justice for the 96 continues and I for one very much support it."

Earlier Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotheram and city mayor Joe Anderson accused Mr Miliband of failing to take account of continuing fury over the tabloid's coverage of the 1989 disaster, which claimed 96 lives.

Mr Anderson said: "Such clear support for that publication at any time would be wrong but at such a sensitive time is deeply shocking.

"My city was offended and insulted by the lies and smears peddled by The S*n and their hindrance to our fight for justice is something that will never be forgotten.

"For the leader of the Labour Party to make such an offensive gesture insults not only me but every person in the city.

"This is just another example of how out of touch the politicians in their ivory towers are from the lives of ordinary people.

"It begs the question - were the comments he made after the Hillsborough panel report sincere or just sound bites?"

Mr Rotheram, who raised concerns with Mr Miliband face-to-face after the picture emerged, posted on Twitter: "He never meant any offence, but in my opinion it shouldn't have happened in the first place."

Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said Mr Miliband's apology was "a bit late" but criticised all three party leaders.

Mrs Aspinall, attending the inquest into the death of her son James at the Hillsborough inquests in Warrington, added: "Common sense should have prevailed.

"They know the families have got enough to get through right now, they know the feelings of the people, not just in Liverpool, it has spread everywhere.

"I can't understand the insensitivity of what they have done, they didn't show any common sense.

"At this moment in time, it was a stupid thing to do. You have got to think about all the people it affected.

"I have met Mr Cameron, I have met Clegg and I have met Mr Miliband.

"The three of them have been very insensitive here, but more so, I think, Ed Miliband. He should have had more common sense."

All the main party leaders have been pictured with the special edition of the Sun.

Liberal democrat peer Lord Storey, a former mayor and leader of Liverpool City Council, urged Nick Clegg to issue an apology.

"I don't think people outside of Merseyside realise the great upset and harm The Sun caused to the people of this city," he told the BBC's Daily Politics.

"It is an insult to what has happened. Both Miliband and Nick Clegg should clearly apologise for the hurt that they have caused."

Richard Kemp, a Lib Dem councillor in Liverpool, added: "I am particularly surprised at Nick Clegg, as Hillsborough is in his constituency.

"I think he has been badly advised. He is not evil or stupid and I hold his advisers more responsible."

Sun managing editor Stig Abell told BBC radio 4's World at One the special edition was "fun and lighthearted", and stressed it had not been delivered in the Liverpool area.

"We were of course very conscious of the sensitivities around Liverpool," he said.

"The Sun recognises that it was the biggest mistake in the Sun's history.

"It has apologised on numerous occasions for getting something so terribly wrong 25 years ago.

"So we absolutely accept that, we don't expect forgiveness from people in Liverpool and we have been very clear about saying that.

"What we are trying to do.. is celebrating both the idea of a print product getting to 22-odd million houses, and also celebrating the World Cup, Englishness, a feeling that summer is here and people want to have a good time."

Mr Abell added: "Ed Miliband appeared in the back of a black cab talking about the European elections a month ago, he has written for the Sun on Sunday... of course they want to get involved in this because we are trying to do something that unites the nation."