Paul Nuttall says foes 'beyond scraping barrel' over Hillsborough slur

Ukip's leader Paul Nuttall said claims he had lied about being a Hillsborough survivor made him "angrier than I've ever been"

Mr Nuttall said he was "hurt, angry and disgusted'' after an article in The Guardian looked to cast doubt on his claim he was present when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death.

He told reporters on Monday he had provided two written statements to the newspaper and could "provide more'' but accused the publication of having" twisted'' the story.

In the article, it was reported two people, a childhood friend and a former teacher, could not recall Mr Nuttall ever mentioning he had been at the stadium disaster.

Liverpool's mayor Joe Anderson was also quoted in the article as saying it was “extremely disappointing'' Mr Nuttall had never used his position to stand up for people from his own community and join the fight for justice''.

The paper also carried a quote from the Hillsborough Family Support Group questioning why he had not offered any support.

Mr Nuttall, who would have been 12 at the time of the disaster, has said he was at the match with his father and two uncles.

He is currently campaigning in the Labour-held Stoke Central by-election, where voters go to the polls on February 23.

Asked at his campaign office in Hanley, Stoke, how he felt about the claims, Mr Nuttall said: I feel bloody angry, angrier than I've ever been and I thought I had seen everything in politics.

“I know it's a dirty game but this is beyond scraping the barrel to be perfectly honest with you.

“It's upset me personally, it's upset my family.''

He added: “For someone who is a proud Scouser and is a season ticket holder at Anfield and has been for many years, to have this thrown at you is worse than anything else.

“(I feel) Hurt, angry, disgusted.''

Mr Nuttall provided statements from his father and another man, whom the paper said was a Ukip employee, stating he had been with them at Hillsborough.

He added while the newspaper had "not ignored'' his statements, "the story was twisted"

“I am pretty disgusted to be honest," he said.

Mr Nuttall added: "This issue should be above politics and I don't think people should try to score political points from it.''

He went on: "It is something I very rarely speak about. "I don't want it to define me."