Boris Johnson has been rapped by the Commons Speaker over his discredited claim that Keir Starmer failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he was “far from satisfied” the Prime Minister’s slur against Starmer was appropriate.
But Downing Street said Boris Johnson “stands by” his false claim that Starmer failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile
The Prime Minister provoked fury by deploying the smear during fiery Commons clashes with the Labour leader, a former Director of Public Prosecutions.
Johnson made the comments on Monday when he lashed out at the Labour leader, a former director of public prosecutions, during Commons clashes about the report on alleged lockdown-busting parties in No 10.
On the ropes over the partygate row, Johnson claimed Starmer “used his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile”.
The Prime Minister has faced calls from a Tory former chief whip to withdraw the “baseless personal slur”, while Starmer said Johnson was “debasing himself by going so low”.
Questioned about the comments on Tuesday, Speaker Hoyle said “procedurally nothing disorderly occurred but such allegations should not be made lightly”.
He added: “While they may not have been disorderly, I am far from satisfied that the comments in question were appropriate on this occasion."
“I want to see more compassionate, reasonable politics in this House and the sort of comment can only inflame opinions and generate disregard for this House.
Starmer was director of public prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, but was not involved in decisions relating to sexual offence allegations against disgraced entertainer Savile.
Tory former chief whip Julian Smith said: “The smear made against Keir Starmer relating to Jimmy Savile yesterday is wrong and cannot be defended. It should be withdrawn."
Smith added: “False and baseless personal slurs are dangerous, corrode trust and can’t just be accepted as part of the cut and thrust of parliamentary debate.”
Starmer told Sky News: “It is a ridiculous slur peddled by right-wing trolls. This is where I saw the faces of the Conservative MPs, the disgust on their faces that their Prime Minister was debasing himself by sinking so low in the Chamber was clear.”
