Boris Johnson’s policy chief Munira Mirza resigns over PM’s Savile remarkson February 3, 2022 at 4:29 pm

Boris Johnson’s head of policy has resigned over the PM’s false claim that Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute serial sex offender Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions.

Mr Johnson made the widely debunked accusation on Monday, sparking anger from MPs – including in his own party.

The PM backed down on Thursday, saying the Labour leader “had nothing to do personally with those decisions”.

But Munira Mirza said he should have apologised for the misleading remarks.

In her resignation letter, published by The Spectator, she wrote: “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.”

A No 10 source confirmed Ms Mirza’s resignation to the BBC.

Shortly after, No 10 sent out an email, confirming Tory MP Andrew Griffith had been named as minister for policy and head of the prime minister’s policy unit in the Cabinet Office.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “We are very sorry Munira has left No 10 and are grateful for her service and contribution to government.

“[We] will work across government and with MPs as we continue to deliver and expand on our ambitious policy agenda.”

Mr Johnson faced criticism on Monday where he accused Sir Keir of spending “most of his time” as director of public prosecutions (DPP) “prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile”, despite having no evidence to back up the claim.

He made the remark during a Commons debate on senior civil servant Sue Gray’s report into Downing Street parties during lockdown, which saw him under pressure from all sides of the House over his conduct.

At Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, the Labour leader hit back, accusing the PM of fuelling conspiracy theories with his remarks.

But Mr Johnson replied that Sir Keir had taken “full responsibility for what had happened on his watch” as the DPP.

By Thursday, Mr Johnson appeared to have backed down, telling reporters he had not been talking about Sir Keir’s “personal record” when he was DPP, adding: “I totally understand that he had nothing to do personally with those decisions.

“I was making a point about his responsibility for the organisation as a whole.”

But in her resignation letter, Ms Mirza’s letter says he should have gone further and apologised to Sir Keir.

The political aide – who has worked with Mr Johnson since he became Mayor of London in 2008 – said the PM had been “wrong” to make the initial remarks, adding: “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.

She added: “You tried to clarify your position today [Thursday] but, despite my urging, you did not apologise for the misleading impression you gave.”

Ms Mirza began her career in the arts sector before becoming a cultural adviser to Mr Johnson as London Mayor.

She then followed him into No 10, and was named the director of his policy unit in 2019.

In 2020, the PM named her as one of the five women who had influenced and inspired him the most, describing her as “capable of being hip, cool, groovy and generally on trend”.

A Conservative Party insider described Ms Mirza as “Boris’ brain and longest-serving adviser”, adding: “For her to depart at such a difficult time and in such a publicly critical way is simply devastating for the PM.

“It sends a strong signal to the Tory Party that even those closest to the PM have now lost faith.”

Another former colleague of Mr Johnson and his aide claimed it was the start of the end game for Mr Johnson’s premiership, adding: “The apocalypse is preceded by all sorts of things you never expect to happen. The moon turns red and the sun goes black.

“Munira leaving Boris had to be on such a list.”