The head of the British police force accused of covering up failings that led to the deaths of 96 fans at the Hillsborough football stadium in 1989 was suspended on Wednesday as MPs called for prosecutions.
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Politicians, including shadow home secretary Andy Burnham and Garston and Halewood MP Maria Eagle, read the names and ages of the victims outside the hall, where a memorial emblazoned with the words Truth and Justice stands over a row of 96 lanterns.
The power’s Police and Crime Commissioner said there had been a “disintegration of trust”.
Dr Billings refused to disclose details of the conversation he had with Mr Crompton in which he told the chief constable he was suspended.
During the vigil, attended by political and civic leaders and representatives of Liverpool and Everton football clubs, the crowd sang the famous Anfield anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, signally that the city had walked alone for almost three decades as it sought justice for the 96 Liverpool fans.
Burnham said: “The much bigger question for the South Yorkshire police to answer today is this: why, at this inquest, did they go back on their 2012 public apology?”
“All families and survivors now have official confirmation of what they always knew was the case – that the Liverpool fans were utterly blameless in the disaster that unfolded at Hillsborough”, he said.
He said the cover-up had been “advanced in the committee rooms of this House and in the press rooms of 10 Downing Street”. Millions of pounds of public money were spent re-telling discredited lies.
The news comes after the families of 22 victims of the Hillsborough disaster called for him to be sacked yesterday.
In 2012, Mr Crompton admitted “grave errors” were made during the Hillsborough disaster and apologised “profoundly”.
Anderson said it was because of the incompetence of those in charge, who tried to lay the blame at the door of the fans, that the 96 had lost their lives.
The inquest jury found blunders by South Yorkshire’s police and ambulance services “caused or contributed to” the deaths at Hillsborough.
In a statement, the FA expressed “deep sorrow and regret”, but added that “given the ongoing criminal investigations, there are limitations to what we can say”.
“I have been left with no choice other than to suspend David from his duties as chief constable of South Yorkshire police”, he said.
He then turned to pay tribute to the “inspirational” families and campaigners, “who won a tremendous battle: you fought for the values truth and justice”.
“One is looking at gross negligence manslaughter, perversions of the course of justice, perjury, misconduct in a public office – all extremely serious offences and a lot of evidence to be looked at”.
“They have supported us and we have supported them”.
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Rother Valley MP Kevin Barron said he “fully agreed” with Dr Billings’ decision.
