Munira, Downing Street’s head of policy, described the remark aimed towards Sir Keir Starmer “an inappropriate, partisan reference to a horrendous child sex abuse case”, reports The Spectator.
She has been working with the Prime Minister since he was Mayor in London.
She stated in a resignation letter that she received from the magazine: “It was wrong for your to suggest this week Keir Starmer was personally liable for Jimmy Savile’s escape from justice.”
“There was no reasonable or fair basis for this assertion.” This was not your typical cut and thrust political statement.
She said that Johnson had not clarified his remarks today and had therefore ignored her request for him to “apologise” for creating the misleading impression.
Following the departure of Ms Mirza, Andrew Griffith, Conservative MP, was appointed head of the Prime Minister’s policy unit.
A spokesperson for No 10 said that they were very sorry Munira had left No 10, but were grateful for her contributions to government.
“Andrew Griffith MP was appointed Head of Policy Unit and will work with MPs and across government as we deliver on our ambitious policy agenda.”
Ms. Mirza worked for Mr Johnson for over 14 years and was Deputy mayor for Education and Culture during his time at City Hall.
She was named by Johnson as one of five women who most inspired him.
Savile’s victims, Tory MPs, and the Commons speaker urged the Prime Minster to retract his accusation that Sir Keir was to be blamed for failing to bring the sex offender before he headed the Crown Prosecution Service. (CPS).
On Wednesday, Labour leader John Johnson claimed that Mr Johnson was “parroting conspiracies of violent fascists in order to score political points”.
Johnson responded, “I don’t want to make heavy weather out of this, but I am informed in 2013 that the Right Honourable gentleman apologized and accepted full responsibility for what had occurred on his watch. I believe that was the right thing.”
He clarified his claim on Thursday, saying that “I’m not talking about the leader of opposition’s personal record as Director of Public Prosecutions. And I completely understand that he did nothing personally to those decisions.”
