Boris Johnson's False Accusation Against Keir Starmer Escalates into Disinformation Concerns

Strategic Insights -

The row over Prime Minister Boris Johnson's baseless claim that Jimmy Savile escaped prosecution due to Keir Starmer's inaction has intensified, with top Tories dodging calls to retract the statement. The culture secretary and justice secretary have hinted at the possibility of the false accusations, while Labour and the SNP have demanded an apology. Experts warn that this is a deliberate shift from misinformation to disinformation, where the goal is to spread unverified claims for political advantage.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Prime Minister's false accusation against Keir Starmer has sparked widespread outrage, with Labour and the SNP calling for an apology.
  • Top Tories, including Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, have entertained the possibility of the false accusations, creating a sense of respectability around them.
  • Experts warn that this is a deliberate shift from misinformation to disinformation, where the goal is to spread unverified claims for political advantage.
  • The Prime Minister's official spokesperson refused to repeat the remarks, but insisted that Johnson stood by the accusation, relating it to a "political aspect of the Prime Minister's work".
  • Tech Minister Chris Philp refused to condemn the lie, saying he would not "comment on current political controversies", giving the false claim an air of plausibility.
  • SNP MP John Nicolson highlighted the similarities between the two Tories' rhetoric, saying it feeds online disinformation and is beneath the dignity of a minister of the crown to defend.

Statistics:

  • Searches for both Keir Starmer and Jimmy Savile spiked in unison, according to a post by former No 10 aide Theo Bertram, showing the deliberate smear tactic.
  • Fact-checking by Reuters and Full Fact found "no evidence" to support the Savile slur, highlighting the false nature of the claim.
  • The doubt cast on Starmer's reasoning for having ordered a probe into the failure to prosecute Savile has contributed to the spread of online misinformation.

Sources:

  • [Xander Richards, "The outrage around the Prime Minister's false accusation about Jimmy Savile having escaped prosecution because of Keir Starmer has continued to grow -- without the Tory government doing anything to address the claim.", The National, February 2, 2022]
  • [Theo Bertram, "@theobertram, Twitter, February 1, 2022]
  • [SNP MP John Nicolson, "@MrJohnNicolson, Twitter, February 1, 2022]
  • [Reuters, "Fact-checking: Boris Johnson's claims about Savile and Starmer", February 2, 2022]
  • [Full Fact, "We fact-checked Boris Johnson's claims about Jimmy Savile and Keir Starmer", February 2, 2022]