Other cabinet ministers have defended the remarks – including the business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, and the justice secretary, Dominic Raab, who called it part of the “cut and thrust” of politics. Cabinet ministers have also expressed unease at the remarks, including the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, during a national press conference, saying “I wouldn’t have said it”. Munira Mirza, one of Johnson’s closest aides who headed the No 10 policy unit, quit on Thursday after urging Johnson to retract the comments. Starmer did not take the decision personally but had apologised for institutional failings after Savile’s abuse was revealed. The row over Johnson’s Savile comments has been cited by a number of Tory MPs who have submitted letters of no confidence in the prime minister, 54 of which must be sent to trigger a vote of no confidence in him.ĭuring an exchange in the House of Commons last Monday, Johnson said Starmer was “a former director of public prosecutions, who spent more time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile”. Starmer was escorted into a car by police officers Photograph: Guardian “Boris Johnson and his cabinet chose to lie down with the dogs – and now the whole lot of them are covered in fleas,” one Labour source said. Labour sources were furious at the incident, though Starmer was unharmed and escorted back to his office within minutes.
I thank the police for responding swiftly,” he said. “All forms of harassment of our elected representatives are completely unacceptable. Johnson said the behaviour “directed at the leader of the opposition tonight is absolutely disgraceful” but stopped short of apologising for his remarks. Elected representatives have a responsibility to lower the temperature of debate, not add fuel to the fire.”
It can have serious real world consequences. What we say and how we say it echoes out far beyond parliament. Tory MP Rob Largan also said it was time to defuse the situation. “It is really important for our democracy and for his security that the false Savile slurs made against him are withdrawn in full,” he tweeted.Ĭalls for an apology also came from Sir Roger Gale, Anthony Mangnall and Tobias Ellwood – Tory MPs who have sent letters of no confidence in Johnson – as well as Stephen Hammond, who has expressed significant concerns about the prime minister. The former chief whip Julian Smith was among at least seven Tory MPs to criticise Johnson as he described the events as appalling.
Keir Starmer was bundled into a police car after being heckled by protesters as he walked near the Houses of Parliament.
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