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    08

    Feb 2022

    Last Updated: 08/02/2022
    Ripon
    Ripon

    Ripon MP calls for PM to withdraw 'Savile slur' after Keir Starmer protest

    by Suzannah Rogerson

    | 08 Feb, 2022
    Comment

    0

    It is the second time in a week that Mr Smith has criticised his party leader on Twitter. His post has received 50,000 likes so far.

    pjimage-1-5
    Boris Johnson and Julian Smith

    Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith last night called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to withdraw "false Savile slurs" after Sir Keir Starmer was surrounded by protesters outside parliament.

    It is the second time in a week the local MP has criticised his party leader on Twitter. He said:

    "What happened to Keir Starmer tonight outside parliament is appalling. It is really important for our democracy & for his security that the false Savile slurs made against him are withdrawn in full."


    Mr Smith's tweet has received 50,000 likes and attracted national media coverage.

    Sir Keir, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, required a police escort last night after being surrounded by a mob shouting slurs about Savile.

    It came a week after Boris Johnson criticised the Labour Party leader for failing to prosecute the serial sex offender.

    Mr Smith tweeted after that incident that "false and baseless personal slurs are dangerous".

    There have been subsequent calls for Mr Johnson to apologise for his comments but Downing street has indicated he will not.

    https://twitter.com/JulianSmithUK/status/1490754037708435460

     

    Sir Keir had to be escorted to a police car whilst protesters criticised him for supporting covid vaccinations and supposedly shouted "Jimmy Saville".

    On his twitter, the Skipton and Ripon MP said:

     





    Read more:



    • North Yorkshire Combined Authority: What is it and how would it work?

    • Harrogate councillor encourages people to have their say on mosque





    Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, agreed with Mr Smith. He posted on Twitter last night:

    "PM - Apologise please. We claim to be the Mother of all Parliaments. Let’s stop this drift towards a Trumpian style of politics from becoming the norm. We are better than this."


    Mr Johnson is yet to withdraw the comments but did condemn last night's protest saying:

    "The behaviour directed at the Leader of the Opposition tonight is absolutely disgraceful. All forms of harassment of our elected representatives are completely unacceptable."