(Bloomberg) -- Boris Johnson suffered a major setback as he battles for survival, after one of his closest allies resigned in protest over a “scurrilous” remark the prime minister made about opposition rival Keir Starmer.
Munira Mirza, one of the longest-standing members of Johnson's team, quit as head of the government's policy unit on Thursday. A second senior aide, director of communications Jack Doyle, has also resigned, the Daily Mail's political editor said on Twitter.
In her resignation letter, Mirza cited Johnson's accusation that Labour Party leader Starmer -- in a former role as director of public prosecutions -- was personally responsible for allowing serial child-sex abuser Jimmy Savile to escape justice, according to the Spectator magazine.
A spokesperson for Johnson's office said in a statement they were “very sorry Munira has left Number 10” and were “grateful for her service and contribution to government.” Conservative MP Andrew Griffith will take up her role.
The departure of Mirza, who began working with Johnson in 2008 when he first became London mayor, is a major setback at a critical time. The premier faces mounting pressure from members of his Conservative Party to step down over a series of missteps and allegations of rule-breaking during the pandemic.
Inside No. 10, Boris Johnson's Broken Team Tears Itself Apart
Adding to the sense that Johnson's grip on power is slipping, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak -- one of the favorites to succeed him -- offered only a lukewarm defense of Johnson, even as he said the premier “has my support.”
“I wouldn't have said it,” Sunak told a televised press conference, referring to the Savile remark. Asked if Johnson should apologize, he replied: “It's a question for the prime minister rather than me.”
Party Turmoil
Johnson took aim at Starmer in the House of Commons on Monday, as the prime minister responded to a government report into lockdown parties in Downing Street. The scandal, dubbed “partygate” by the media, has brought Johnson to the brink as support for his Tories plummeted in the polls.
Meanwhile London's Metropolitan Police are also investigating 12 gatherings at the center of the allegations of rule-breaking.
As he tried to rally his MPs during a heated session, Johnson accused Starmer of spending most of his time in his previous role “prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile.”
But the comment backfired, and led to a storm of criticism because Starmer was not personally involved in the Savile case.
‘Trumpian'
Former Tory cabinet minister Amber Rudd told ITV's “Peston” program that Johnson's comments were a “Trumpian response to try and deflect from himself and use something so outrageous that people will talk about that rather than the big issue.”
Many Tory MPs have already criticized what they see as Johnson's self-inflicted wounds, including his ultimately doomed attempt to save a Conservative colleague during an ethics row last year.
Starmer himself later accused Johnson of “parroting the conspiracy theories of violent fascists to try to score cheap political points.”
Johnson appeared to back down on the Savile claim on Thursday, telling broadcasters he was “making a point about” Starmer's “responsibility for the organization as a whole,” rather than his personal record.
‘Inappropriate'
But in her letter to Johnson, Mirza said his explanation fell short of what she had demanded, according to the Spectator.
“Despite my urging, you did not apologize for the misleading impression you gave,” she said. “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.”
Her resignation will exacerbate the sense of crisis for Johnson, coming just a day after three more Tory MPs submitted letters calling for a vote of no-confidence in him. A vote on his leadership will be triggered if the number reaches 54 -- or 15% of the total. The running tally remains private until the threshold is reached.
Sunak Says ‘Partygate' Hit Public Confidence in U.K. Government
In an interview earlier Thursday with the BBC, Sunak pointedly didn't rule out seeking the top job if it became available. He warned that public confidence in Johnson's administration has been shaken over the pandemic party allegations, and said he “can appreciate people's frustration.”
Asked if he would rule out standing for Conservative leader, Sunak called it a “hypothetical situation,” while saying it was “very kind” that some Tory MPs had suggested him for the top job.
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