Jack Straw has broken a promise to jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields, according to the city's oppostion Labour group leader.
The 23-year-old is serving a ten year sentence for the attempted murder of waiter Martin Georgiev in Bulgaria in 2005.
Despite a long campaing by supporters, new evidence from witnessas and passing a lie detector test with flying colours, the Justice Secretary has refused to grant him a pardon.
Cllr Joe Anderson - who has been working closely with the Shields family - has blasted his parliamentary colleague for failing to release the student, despite promising to do "all he could" to help.
He said: “Jack Straw has said many times to various people that he will do all he can to assist Michael’s case.
“But his own report into why he is considering refusal seems to show he has done exactly the opposite.
“He has broken his word. All of the evidence would lead most reasonable, fair-minded people to the conclusion that there has to be significant doubt about the safety of Michael’s conviction.
“But instead Jack Straw misinterpreted the High Court’s ruling and even ignored a vital part of what they said. It’s scandalous.”
Mr Straw is expected to release a full decision on the matter next month.
Peter C, Liverpool around 2 years, 10 months ago