Paul Nuttall has admitted claims on his own website that he “lost a close personal friend” during the Hillsborough disaster are false.

The UKIP leader spoke about claims made on his official website in an interview on Radio City Talk today.

Presenter Dave Easson, who was at Hillsborough himself, found the post while preparing for his interview and questioned the Bootle -born MEP live on air.

Stoke Central by-election candidate and party leader Paul Nuttall
Stoke Central by-election candidate and party leader Paul Nuttall

He said: “I remember that day vividly, and there are some bits where it’s incredibly vivid. It affects my work, it affects my line of work because I was working on the inquests.

“It affects me every day and I didn’t lose anybody that day, and you say you lost a close personal friend.”

Mr Nuttall, clearly shocked by the question, replied: “I don’t know who’s written that

“Well.. that’s not from me sorry. That is absolutely...[silence] Nah, I’m sorry, I haven’t lost a close personal friend.

“I’ve lost someone who I know but I don’t know who’s written that. It was people who I knew through football and things like that.

“I haven’t put that out. It is wrong.”

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Easson then clarified: “I basically just went through your website last night, searched for Hillsborough.

“It’s your own site. Do you see where this goes with you being a politcian? People will find these things and whether you believe that or not, you're the person will be shot at.”

The interview comes after a Guardian article cast doubt on Mr Nuttall’s claims he was present when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death.

Earlier this month he said he was “hurt, angry and disgusted” over the article - which reported that a childhood friend and a former teacher could not recall Mr Nuttall ever mentioning he had been at the stadium disaster.

Paul Nuttall's website where he made the claims.
Paul Nuttall's website where he made the claims.

Mr Nuttall then re-iterated his claim there were witnesses who could confirm he was there on that day.

He said: “I just want to make it perfectly clear I was there on that. I’ve got witnesses, people who would stand up in court and back me 100% OK?

“It’s cruel and it’s nasty and it’s making out as if my family are lying as well. Which is, you know.. it’s just not fair or right.”

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.”