Boris Johnson latest news: Gove defends Savile jibe amid new party claims
Sir Lindsay Hoyle issues stinging rebuke to Boris Johnson over Jimmy Savile jibe
Michael Gove insists the PM should not have to apologise for a discredited claim he made in the Commons this week, that Sir Keir Starmer failed to take action against Jimmy Savile when he was the director of public prosecutions.
It comes less than 24 hours after lawyers for victims of the notorious paedophile called on Boris Johnson to publicly withdraw his remarks. While Mr Gove, the levelling up secretary, said he had “enormous respect” for those who “act for victims of the actions of a terrible criminal”, he also claimed Sir Keir had previously “acknowledged that mistakes were made by the organisation of which he was head”.
Various political figures, including one of Mr Johnson’s own MPs, have taken issue with what was said. Former Conservative chief whip Julian Smith branded the jibe “false” and said “baseless personal slurs are dangerous”.
It comes as the PM faces fresh Partygate allegations, with reports suggesting he attended and gave a speech at a leaving do held at Downing Street just over a week into the third national lockdown last January. It is one of the 12 events now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police and was listed in Sue Gray’s report.
Watch: PM has nothing to apologise for over Savile claim, Gove insists
PM has nothing to apologise for over Jimmy Savile claim, Gove insists
Sam Hancock2 February 2022 08:18
On that note, here’s our policy correspondent Jon Stone with more on what Michael Gove said and the context around it.
Sam Hancock2 February 2022 08:16
PM doesn’t need to apologise for Jimmy Savile remarks, insists Gove
Let’s kick things off with Michael Gove, who this morning said Boris Johnson has nothing to apologise for over his discredited claim that Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was the director of public prosecutions.
Asked about the issue on Wednesday monring, Mr Gove, the levelling up secretary, described it as “uniquely sensitive” and said it needed “to be handled with care”.
He also said he listened “with enormous respect to those who act for victims of the actions of a terrible, terrible criminal”, when reminded that lawyers for victims of the prolific paedophile had yesterday urged Boris Johnson to withdraw remarks he made in the Commons on Monday.
Despite this, though, Mr Gove insisted his boss had nothing to be sorry for. “It’s not a subject that I want to dwell on because it is uniquely sensitive,” he told Sky News, “it is the case that the CPS apologised for the handling of this case and what happened in 2009, and I think we should acknowledge that an apology was given at the time and respect that.”
He added: “Keir Starmer acknowledged that mistakes had been made by the organisation of which he was head, to his credit. He was very clear about those mistakes.”
The controversy comes after Mr Johnson used a debate on the Sue Gray report, about Partygate, to accuse Sir Keir, now the Labour leader, of failing to prosecute Savile for his heinous crimes. It is a claim that has long been discredited and was yesterday described by Sir Keir himself as a “ridiculous slur”.
Sam Hancock2 February 2022 07:49
Good morning
Hello, and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.
I’ll be with you until around 4pm today, so stay tuned for all the latest Partygate updates and general news from insider Westminster and beyond.
It’s set to be another tough day for Boris Johnson, after reports surfaced suggesting he was present at another lockdown-busting party, this time held in the third lockdown last January.
Sam Hancock2 February 2022 07:35
US partnership with UK ‘has not changed despite cakes in anyone’s faces’
White House press secretary on Tuesday confirmed that President Joe Biden has never been “ambushed by a cake” while she was responding to a question about the Partygate controversy impacting the ability of the US and UK to press Russia over the stand off in Ukraine.
She, however, added she has not yet spoken with Mr Biden “specifically” about the controversy.
“But what I can tell you is that he is confident in the important partnership we have with the United Kingdom, the role they play as an important partner in making clear to Russia the unacceptable nature of the buildup of troops and their bellicose rhetoric as it relates to Ukraine.
“And that certainly has not changed, despite cakes in anyone’s faces.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki answers questions during the daily White House briefing on 1 February 2022 in…
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