Munira Mirza ‘blows hole in PM’s authority’ says expert
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BBC Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt gave insights into the shock news that four of the Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s aides resigned on the same day. Munira Mirza, a now-former political advisor, caused quite a stir with the announcement of her resignation as she cited the Prime Minister’s Jimmy Savile comments about Keir Starmer in the Commons as a key reason for her departure. The political editor told BBC Newsnight of the shock the departures were having on supporters of the Prime Minister.
Mr Watt said: “I spoke to one senior figure, said yes that is a Twitter storm, though not a very big one because he doesn’t seem to be able to get a lot of support.
“Interestingly, supporters of Boris Johnson in private are saying, it was absolutely not meant to be like this.
“They are really shocked by the departure of Munira Mirza.
“I was speaking to one senior figure and they say that the resignation blows up part of the idea, that there’s some great strategy in Downing Street.
Mr Watt added: “This really does blow the hole in the Prime Minister’s authority.
“And interestingly, in Government circles tonight, they’re saying Boris Johnson has one really big problem.
“It looks like nobody really serious wants to go and work in Downing Street.”
Ms Mirza took issue with Mr Johnson refusing to apologise for his controversial comments about Keir Starmer’s role in Jimmy Savile’s investigation.
He said on Monday: “The report does absolutely nothing to substantiate the issue of nonsense that he has said. Absolute nonsense.
Boris Johnson backtracks on his Jimmy Savile comments
“Instead, this leader of the opposition, a former director of public prosecution, who used his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile, as far as I can see, he chose to use this moment to continually pre-judge a police inquiry.
“He has reached his conclusions about it. I am not going to reach any conclusions and he would be entirely wrong to do so.
“I have complete confidence in the police, I hope that they will be allowed simply to get on with their job and don’t propose to offer any more commentary about it and I don’t believe that he should either.”
The now-former chief policy aide Munira Mirza served beside the Prime Minister since his term in office as Mayor of London.
Ms Mirza gave her reasonings for resigning in a letter, criticising the comments made by Mr Johnson about Labour party leader Keir Starmer.
Ms Mirza said: “It is with great regret that I am writing to resign as your Head of Policy.
“You are aware of the reason for my decision: I believe it was wrong for you to imply this week that Keir Starmer was personally responsible for allowing Jimmy Savile to escape justice. “There was no fair or reasonable basis for that assertion.
“This was not the normal cut-and-thrust of politics; it was an inappropriate and partisan reference to a horrendous case of child sex abuse.
“You tried to clarify your position today but, despite my urging, you did not apologise for the misleading impression you gave.
“I have served you for fourteen years and it has been a privilege to do so. You have achieved many important things both as Prime Minister and, before that, as Mayor of London. You are a man of extraordinary abilities with a unique talent for connecting with people.
“You are a better man than many of your detractors will ever understand which is why it is desperately sad that you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation against the Leader of the Opposition.
“Even now, I hope you find it in yourself to apologise for a grave error of judgement made under huge pressure.
“I appreciate that our political culture is not forgiving when people say sorry, but regardless, it is the right thing to do. It is not too late for you but, I’m sorry to say, it is too late for me.”
Speaking to Channel 5 News about the close aide’s resignation Mr Johnson said: “I’m sorry to lose Munira, she’s done an outstanding job and has been a wonderful colleague for a long time. And she’s been instrumental in delivering all sorts of fantastic policies in London and now in the Government of the UK.”
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