Downing Street’s head of policy, Munira Mirza, has reportedly resigned after Boris Johnson failed to apologise for using a Jimmy Savile slur against Sir Keir Starmer.
Long-term ally of the Prime Minister, Ms Mirza, who's from Oldham, was said to have quit in outrage at his “inappropriate and partisan reference to a horrendous case of child sex abuse”.
During an interview on Thursday (3 February), Mr Johnson backtracked on the widely criticised and debunked claim that the Labour leader failed to prosecute Savile.
But, according to Ms Mirza’s resignation letter reported by the Spectator magazine, he stopped short of issuing the apology that she had requested.
“I believe it was wrong for you to imply this week that Keir Starmer was personally responsible for allowing Jimmy Savile to escape justice,” the letter read.
“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.
“You are a better man than many of your detractors will ever understand which is why it is so desperately sad that you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation against the Leader of the Opposition.”
The resignation of one of his most loyal allies, who has worked with him for more than a decade, further weakens the Prime Minister as he battles to remain leader.
Ms Mirza, who attended Breeze Hill School and Oldham Sixth Form College, first began working with Mr Johnson in 2008 when he was Mayor of London.
She was initially a Cultural Adviser, and Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Industries.
From 2012 she became Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture, one of six Deputy Mayors.
When Mr Johnson became Prime Minister in July 2019, Ms Mirza was appointed Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit, replacing James Marshall.
Now, Conservative MP Andrew Griffith has been made the head of the Prime Minister’s policy unit, Downing Street said, following the departure of Boris Johnson’s long-term ally Munira Mirza.
