The Commons Speaker has warned MPs their “words have consequences” and demanded an explanation from the Metropolitan Police after a mob hounded Keir Starmer near the British parliament.
Lindsay Hoyle reiterated it was “inappropriate” for Boris Johnson to level a Jimmy Savile smear against Labour leader Mr Starmer, warning such comments “only inflame opinions”.
Mr Starmer was bundled into a police car for protection near parliament on Monday as he faced allegations of “protecting paedophiles” from protesters shouting about Savile.
At least six Conservatives, including a former cabinet minister, joined MPs from across the political spectrum in linking the harassment to the baseless claim which Mr Johnson made while under pressure over the partygate scandal.
The British prime minister has so far resisted fresh demands to apologise.
Making a statement to MPs, Mr Hoyle criticised the “disgraceful behaviour” directed at Mr Starmer, and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy near parliament.
He said: “I deplore the fact that members of this house were subjected to intimidating and threatening behaviour while simply doing their jobs.
“I know the whole house will join me in saying that we stand with our colleagues in condemning the behaviour they and the police experienced.
“While I do not comment in detail on security matters on the floor of the chamber, steps must be in place to keep passholders secure as they enter and leave the parliamentary estate.
“I have requested a situation report from the Metropolitan Police via our security team on how this incident occurred.”
Mr Hoyle added: “I know it has been reported that some abuse was directed at the leader of the opposition yesterday related to claims made by the prime minister in this chamber.
“But regardless of yesterday’s incident, I made it clear last week that while the prime minister’s words were not disorderly they were inappropriate.
“As I said then these sorts of comments only inflame opinions and generate disregard for the House, and it is not acceptable.
“Our words have consequences, and we should always be mindful of the fact.”
Earlier, technology minister Chris Philp said Mr Johnson could not be held responsible for the “unacceptable” actions of the demonstrators.
He said that some of those taking part had been involved in similar incidents targeting communities secretary Michael Gove and the BBC journalist Nick Watt.
“They did mention Jimmy Savile. They also mentioned Julian Assange repeatedly, they mentioned Covid, they also mentioned the opposition more generally,” he told Sky News.
“I don’t think you can point to what the prime minister said as the cause of that. You certainly can’t blame him for the fact that that mob were clearly behaving in a totally unacceptable way.
“You certainly can’t say that what he said in any way prompted, provoked or justified the harassment and intimidation we saw last night.”
Last week Mr Johnson falsely claimed Mr Starmer “used his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile” while Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Coming under renewed criticism, Mr Johnson tweeted on Monday evening that the “behaviour directed” at the Labour leader was “absolutely disgraceful” but did not address the nature of the abuse.
Julian Smith, who previously served as Mr Johnson’s Northern Ireland secretary, 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.”
I’m incredibly angry & upset by the scenes we saw yesterday. I keep thinking about Keir & David’s families & friends. But these things don’t just happen. Words have consequences, leaders have a duty to behave responsibly & politics is not a game. Our country deserves far better. pic.twitter.com/UE7PgQElRd
— Kim Leadbeater MP (@kimleadbeater) February 8, 2022
Kim Leadbeater, the sister of murdered MP Jo Cox who is now herself a Labour MP, said she was “incredibly angry and upset” about what had happened.
“Words have consequences, leaders have a duty to behave responsibly and politics is not a game. Our country deserves far better,” she tweeted.
Labour frontbencher Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said that if Mr Johnson was genuinely sorry for what happened he should come to Parliament and apologise for what he said.
“This is straight out of the Trumpian playbook and most of us have come into public life to help change lives,” he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
Officers stepped in to protect the opposition leader as the group, some protesting against Covid measures, followed him from outside Scotland Yard.
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.
Scotland Yard said two people were arrested on suspicion of assault after a traffic cone was thrown at a police officer during the unrest.
Mr Lammy said it was “no surprise the conspiracy theorist thugs who harassed” Mr Starmer and himself had “repeated” Mr Johnson’s slurs.
Mr Starmer, apologised while director of public prosecutions in 2013 for the CPS having failed to bring Savile to justice four years earlier.
There is, however, no evidence that Mr Starmer, had any personal role in the failure to prosecute the man who was one of Britain’s most egregious sex offenders before his death in 2011.
