Boris Johnson Accused of "Disgrace" for Remarks on Jimmy Savile Case

Strategic Insights -

In a recent exchange in the House of Commons, Boris Johnson sparked controversy by accusing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile, a notorious entertainer with a history of sexual abuse. However, the claim was swiftly disputed by Nazir Afzal, a former chief Crown prosecutor, who pointed out that Sir Keir had supported him in bringing hundreds of child sex abusers to justice. The Prime Minister's comments have been widely criticized, with Full Fact, an independent fact-checking organization, confirming that Sir Keir was not personally involved in the decision not to prosecute Savile in 2009.

Key Takeaways:

  • Boris Johnson accused Sir Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile, a claim disputed by Nazir Afzal, a former chief Crown prosecutor.
  • Sir Keir Starmer was head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) when the decision not to prosecute Savile was made, but he was not personally involved in the case.
  • The decision not to prosecute Savile was based on "insufficient evidence", according to Full Fact's fact-checking report.
  • Nazir Afzal supported Sir Keir Starmer in bringing hundreds of child sex abusers to justice, contradicting the Prime Minister's claim.
  • The Prime Minister's comments have been widely criticized, with many viewing them as a breach of parliamentary ethics.

Statistics:

  • 100s: The number of child sex abusers brought to justice with the support of Sir Keir Starmer, according to Nazir Afzal.
  • 2009: The year in which the decision not to prosecute Jimmy Savile was made, while Sir Keir Starmer was head of the CPS.
  • 2011: The year in which Jimmy Savile died at the age of 84 having never been brought to justice for his crimes.
  • 2016: The year in which a report into Savile's abuse found that staff at the BBC missed numerous opportunities to stop him.

Sources:

  • Nazir Afzal (@nazirafzal) - January 31, 2022, Twitter
  • Full Fact - "Was Keir Starmer responsible for not prosecuting Jimmy Savile in 2009?" (2020)
  • Full Fact - "Did Keir Starmer receive pressure from the Labour Party to drop investigation of Jimmy Savile?" (2020)
  • The Guardian - "Boris Johnson accused of 'disgrace' by former chief prosecutor over Jimmy Savile remarks"