Hunt's gaffe

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has apologised for saying that fan violence played a part in the Hillsborough disaster.

Politicians are fallible, and heard in context it is obvious that the comment was a thoughtless aside.

However, it does highlight a general ignorance and lack of interest in the North of England on the part of some Tory MPs, and echoes Boris Johnson's Liverpool gaffe of a few years ago.

The comments will do little to persuade regions in the North - which were not convinced by the Conservatives at the general election - that the party represents them or understands their concerns.