A Conservative councillor has come under fire about the content of an e-mail he sent charity Just West Yorkshire over the Hillsborough Report and its call for West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison to resign.

Councillor Roger Taylor, who represents Northowram and Shelf on Calderdale Council, contacted Just and made reference to the Hillsborough findings as being “overloaded with politically-correct language” like the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, something he also labelled “a joke in itself”.

He added that Just was “not fit to tie Sir Norman Bettison’s shoe laces” and how dare it call for his resignation.

The organisation said: “Mr Taylor’s comments show a callous disregard for the plight of the Hillsborough Families who fought a 23-year long campaign for the truth to emerge.

“As a Conservative councillor Mr Taylor must be aware that his own political party leader, the Prime Minister, apologised for the double injustice that had been left uncorrected for so long. The West Yorkshire Police Authority – which he says he was a member – has also referred Mr Bettison to the Independent Police Complaint’s Commission.”

When contacted by the Telegraph & Argus, Coun Taylor said he was not going to enter into a defence of what he said in a private e-mail to the organisation.

  • The police authority met yesterday to continue its consideration of matters arising from the Hillsborough Report, including the referral of Sir Norman.

Officials refused to give any more information about the meeting.