Boris Johnson came under fresh criticism for the Jimmy Savile smear he aimed at Sir Keir Starmer after the Labour leader was targeted by a mob near Parliament on Monday evening.
Footage posted to social media showed a crowd of demonstrators surrounding the Labour leader as he was led into a police vehicle by officers.
There were angry clashes with police after Sir Keir was escorted into a police car on the Victoria Embankment shortly after 5pm. Two people were arrested at the scene after a traffic cone was thrown at a police officer, the Met confirmed.
Protesters were heard chanting notorious sex offender Jimmy Savile’s name at Sir Keir in reference to Boris Johnson’s slur directed at the Labour leader.
On at least two videos posted to social media, a man and a woman were heard shouting about Savile to the Labour leader, as he walked with shadow foreign secretary David Lammy.
At least one person was heard repeatedly shouting about “protecting paedophiles”.
Former Cabinet minister Julian Smith said the Prime Minister must withdraw the Savile slur for the sake of Sir Keir’s security in the wake of the incident.
The Tory MP tweeted: “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“It is really important for our democracy & for his security that the false Savile slurs made against him are withdrawn in full.”
Fellow Tory MP Robert Largan, for High Peak, said: “I agree with Julian. Words matter. What we say & how we say it echoes out far beyond Parliament. It can have serious real world consequences.
“Elected representatives have a responsibility to lower the temperature of debate, not add fuel to the fire.”
Mr Johnson said the abuse hurled at Sir Keir Starmer was “absolutely disgraceful”.
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 It is really important for our democracy & for his security that the false Savile slurs made against him are withdrawn in full.
— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) February 7, 2022
The Prime Minister tweeted: “The behaviour directed at the Leader of the Opposition tonight is absolutely disgraceful. All forms of harassment of our elected representatives are completely unacceptable.
“I thank the police for responding swiftly.”
In a clip posted on Twitter, the protesters are also heard shouting “traitor” and “why aren’t you opposing the Government?”.
I agree with Julian. Words matter. What we say & how we say it echoes out far beyond Parliament. It can have serious real world consequences. Elected representatives have a responsibility to lower the temperature of debate, not add fuel to the fire. https://t.co/IRLrkVe5kc
— Robert Largan MP (@robertlargan) February 7, 2022
“Why did you go after Julian Assange, why did you go after journalists?” one man shouted.
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, who was with Sir Keir at the time, tweeted: “Intimidation, harassment and lies have no place in our democracy. And they won’t ever stop me doing my job.”
Protesters claiming to be from the “Freedom Movement” were seen carrying signs displaying mandatory vaccination.
Footage posted to social media also showed Piers Corbyn, the Covid conspiracy theorist brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, addressing the crowd before the incident and later leading chants of “resist, defy, do not comply”.
The behaviour directed at the Leader of the Opposition tonight is absolutely disgraceful. All forms of harassment of our elected representatives are completely unacceptable.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 7, 2022
I thank the police for responding swiftly.
Labour MP Chris Bryant said the footage was “appalling”, adding: “People were shouting all sorts at Keir, including “Jimmy Savile”.
“This is what happens when a prime minister descends into the gutter and recycles lies from hard-right conspiracy theorists.
“Political poison has an effect. Johnson has no moral compass.”
It came hours after Sir Keir said it was “up to the Prime Minister” whether he apologises for looking to personally link his rival to the failure to prosecute Jimmy Savile.
Mr Johnson last week accused Sir Keir of having used his time as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to go after journalists and “failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile”, in comments he later backtracked on.
However, he stopped short of apologising, with one of his most loyal aides, No 10’s head of policy Munira Mirza, quitting over the “scurrilous accusation”.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the abuse hurled at Sir Keir Starmer outside Parliament is “completely unacceptable”.
She tweeted: “All Members of Parliament must be able to go about their lives without fear of threats or intimidation.
“The scenes outside Parliament of people accosting @Keir-Starmer & @DavidLammy were completely unacceptable.
“I am in contact with the police about the incident.”
All Members of Parliament must be able to go about their lives without fear of threats or intimidation.
— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) February 7, 2022
The scenes outside Parliament of people accosting @Keir_Starmer & @DavidLammy were completely unacceptable.
I am in contact with the police about the incident.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “Shortly after 17.10hrs on Monday, 7 February, a man who had been surrounded by a group of protesters near to New Scotland Yard, was taken away from the scene by a police car.
“A man and a woman were arrested at the scene for assault of an emergency worker after a traffic cone was thrown at a police officer.
“They have been taken into custody.”
