#BorisJohnson aide #MuniraMirza quits over #Savile smear against #KeirStarmer
Sulk: Boris Johnson has nobody to blame for his latest mess but himself.
It’s all unravelling fast now, for Boris Johnson.
And he should be kicking himself for this, because after he thought his Partygate tracks had been well and truly covered, he shot himself in the proverbial foot causing a fuss about Keir Starmer and Jimmy Savile.
His claim that Starmer had failed in his duty by not prosecuting Savile for child sex offences while the current Labour leader was Director of Public Prosecutions has upset not only Labour MPs, members and supporters, but people in his own party as well.
He made matters worse by refusing to withdraw his false claim (Starmer had nothing to do with the Savile investigation) – and supporters like James Cleverly also compounded the offence.
Both tried to justify Johnson’s words today (February 3) by saying the prime minister had been trying to draw a parallel between Partygate, in which Johnson had taken responsibility for the behavioural failings in Downing Street, and the Savile investigation, for which Starmer (who was in charge of the CPS at the time) didn’t.
But even this is not true, because Starmer admitted that several police forces had failed to take action against the disgraced celebrity, and apologised to the victims, in his capacity as DPP in 2013.
And Johnson still refused to apologise in any way. Instead, he said he wanted to “clarify” his remarks because a lot of people “got very hot under the collar”.
He said: “Let’s be absolutely clear, I’m talking not about the Leader of the Opposition’s personal record when he was DPP and I totally understand that he had nothing to do personally with those decisions.
“I was making a point about his responsibility for the organisation as a whole. I really do want to clarify that because it is important.”
It is indeed. Starmer did take responsibility, and did apologise for the failure, so he did not deserve to be smeared by Johnson – whose only comment on his own Partygate responsibilities has been, “Wait for the report.”
And now the resignations have started. First to go has been Munira Mirza, who has been a Johnson ally for 14 years and was head of policy at Downing Street until today.
In a letter published by The Spectator, she stated: “I believe it was wrong for you to imply this week that Keir Starmer was personally responsible for allowing Jimmy Savile to escape justice. There was no fair or reasonable basis for that assertion.
“This was not the usual cut and thrust of politics; it was an inappropriate and partisan reference to a horrendous case of child sex abuse.
“You tried to clarify your position today but, despite my urging, you did not apologise for the misleading impression you gave.”
She may be just the first of many to hand in their notice.
Other Tory MPs are said to be lining up to do the same, likening Johnson to the fake news-spouting former US President Donald Trump.
With the news media already reporting that at least 17 Tories have submitted letters of “no confidence” in Johnson’s leadership, how many more are about to do the same over this?
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“I was making a point about his responsibility for the organisation as a whole. I really do want to clarify that because it is important.” said little fascist dictator duck johnson and by accident he directed his rebuke to Starmer when in fact little fascist dictator duck johnson was referring to himself!
Little fascist dictator duck johnson is 110% responsible for the innumerable alcoholic parties his fascist tory lackeys attended which all happened when laws were in force criminalising these acts!
But hey laws only apply to us peasants not to arrogant air heads such as little fascist dictator duck johnson and his cloying lackeys!
poor starmer got smeared! my heart is bleeding!! lol! After all the smearing the blairites did to corbyn I couldn’t give a shit about this!
Only twice in my life have I seen a government employee’s actual signature. One of those was Keir’s. On a letter threatening to gaol the survivors of the worst physical and sexual abuse you can imagine for two years. No trial required. Simply for having the audacity to ask him to do his job as Director of Prosecutions. The evidence was there….
Those MPs who said they would wait for Sue Gray’s report are still waiting as she only supplied an update. Now we’ll have to wait until the Met completes its work and then to see IF Sue Gray can complete her report – will there be reasons specified by the Met why information should be redacted? Will anyone be held criminally responsible? IF any are they might appeal against these decisions rather than take a ‘ticket’ or further such measures. This WILL drag on and on and on. There are too many Boris ‘fanboys’ to ensure a swift exit and a new leader before the next GE. If anything can prevent them winning another term, it is this. Starmer’s performance won’t make any difference, it’s the Tories election to lose, Starmer is a wet blanket..