Heartbroken Labour MP at Liverpool parade recalls moment 'joy' turned 'terrible'
In an emotional radio interview, Alison McGovern, the Labour MP for Birkenhead, recalled realising 'something so terrible had happened' after a wonderful day at the parade
A DWP minister who was at Liverpool's Premier League victory parade said she is "devastated" that the "most wonderful and perfect day" ended with a car ploughing into a crowd.
In an emotional radio interview, Alison McGovern, the Labour MP for Birkenhead, said she spent four hours with her family at the parade, where she was having a wonderful day of "joy and celebration". She said she travelled to the city centre to get some food before she started to receive messages and "realised something so terrible had happened".
The heartbroken MP said: "So many families were there actually, so many children enjoying just getting a glimpse of their heroes on that bus, and for this to happen, it's just, it's really heartbreaking."
Four children were among about 50 people injured during the victory parade on Sunday. Up to one million Liverpool fans had lined the streets to celebrate the team as they moved through the city centre with the Premier League trophy on an open-top bus. Merseyside Police are not treating the incident as terrorism after a 53-year-old man was arrested.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Ms McGovern said: "We had the most wonderful and perfect day... I just feel so devastated that this wonderful day of joy and celebration had this at its end. And my heart goes to all of those affected, and all of those families. I was walking away from the parade.
"I'd been with my family all day for four hours in the rain. It was just such a wonderful occasion. And everybody was, despite the rain, happy and just so thrilled to see their heroes with the Premier League trophy. We moved we moved away from the main area, as I've described, by the pier head, we walked up through the city centre and towards where we were going to go and have some food.
"And it was only when, I started to get messages, that I realised something so terrible had happened, and it's really, really awful. I can only say thank you so much to the police and to all of the NHS staff who are caring for those people who are affected."
The senior MP said Liverpool Football Club "is a very special club" and Liverpool is "a very special city". She added: "I know in the coming days that we will think about how we care and love those people who've been hurt, because this is what we do. We come together and support each other."
Ms McGovern said she was not going to speculate on the police investigation. She added: "The police gave out some very clear messages yesterday, not least that if people have got footage or anything that might be useful to them, please, please give it to Merseyside police. And don't, you know, speculate on the internet or or share things like that."
In a statement released last night, Keir Starmer said: "The scenes in Liverpool are appalling - my thoughts are with all those injured or affected."
The Prime Minister later added: "Tonight, I have spoken to (Liverpool Mayor) Steve Rotheram about the terrible events in Liverpool and the remarkable bravery shown by the police and other emergency services. They are supporting and caring for those injured in these terrible events.
"Everyone, especially children, should be able to celebrate their heroes without this horror. The city has a long and proud history of coming together through difficult times. Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool."
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