Finance Minister Rishi Sunak criticised Boris Johnson and the British prime minister’s policy aide quit on Thursday over his accusation that the main opposition leader had failed to prosecute one of Britain’s worst sex offenders.
With Johnson facing calls to resign from several of his own Conservative lawmakers over a series of parties held at his Downing Street office and residence during coronavirus lockdowns on top of a series of other missteps, the latest row has heaped more pressure on his premiership.
During angry exchanges in parliament on Monday, Johnson accused Labour Party leader Keir Starmer of “failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile” during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions. read more
Starmer responded on Wednesday that Johnson was “parroting the conspiracy theories of violent fascists” by repeating the false claim that he was responsible for the decision not to take action against Savile, a TV and radio host who was never prosecuted despite a number of police investigations.
After his death in 2011 aged 84, it was revealed Savile had abused hundreds of victims, the youngest of whom was just eight.
Johnson tried to row back on his comments on Thursday.
“I want to be very clear about this because a lot of people have got very hot under the collar,” Johnson told broadcasters.
“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.”
Asked whether the prime minister should have apologised, finance minister Sunak, considered the leading contender to replace Johnson should he be forced out, said: “Being honest, I wouldn’t have said it, and I am glad the prime minister clarified what he said.”
‘IT IS NOT TOO LATE FOR YOU’
Johnson’s failure to apologise for his comments also led Munira Mirza, his head of policy who had worked with him for 14 years, to quit her job.
She said there was “no fair or reasonable basis” for his original assertion, The Spectator magazine reported.
“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,” the magazine cited Mirza as saying in a letter to Johnson.
“I hope you find it in yourself to apologise for a grave error of judgement made under huge pressure…It is not too late for you but, I’m sorry to say, it is too late for me.”
Johnson’s office later confirmed Mirza’s resignation.
“We are very sorry Munira has left No. 10 and are grateful for her service and contribution to government,” a spokesperson for his office said.
Johnson and his spokesman had previously declined to step back from his initial remarks about Starmer, but there has been growing condemnation not just from opposition politicians but also by some Conservatives who said he should withdraw the comments.
“I was making a point about his responsibility for the organisation as a whole and I think people can see that and I just I really do want to clarify that because it is important,” Johnson said.
Johnson is trying to weather the gravest threat to his leadership so far. He faced renewed calls to resign on Monday after a report found that alcohol-fuelled parties at his offices and residence while COVID-19 lockdown rules were in force should never have taken place.
The report pointed to “serious failures of leadership” at the heart of the British government. Opposition figures have called him a habitual liar who has misled parliament – accusations he has brushed aside.
Share your thoughts