Munira Mirza
 Munira Mirza    | ||||||||||||
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| Born | May 1978 | |||||||||||
| Alma mater | Mansfield College (Oxford), University of Kent | |||||||||||
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Munira Mirza (born May 1978) is a British SPAD who was the Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit during the premiership of Boris Johnson.[1] She previously worked under Johnson as Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture when he was Mayor of London.[2]
Contents
Accusation
On Monday 31 January 2022, during a parliamentary debate over Sue Gray's report on partygate, Boris Johnson accused Keir Starmer of spending "most of his time" as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) "prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile".
Transcript
| DPP Starmer was "prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile" |
A commenter on YouTube wrote:
Here's the transcript of this extract from Boris Johnson's attack on Keir Starmer:
"Instead, Mr Speaker, this Leader of the Opposition, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Speaker, who spent most of his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile as far as I can make out, Mr Speaker."
None of the media or political commentariat seems to have focused on the (factual) "prosecuting journalists" barb, instead they - including PoliticsJOE - have concentrated on the (debatable) "Jimmy Savile" accusation.
I'm aware of Starmer's efforts to prosecute Julian Assange. Did he prosecute any other journalists?[3]
Reaction
At Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), Starmer hit back, accusing the PM of fuelling conspiracy theories with his remarks. But Johnson replied that Starmer had taken "full responsibility for what had happened on his watch" as the DPP.
Backing down
By Thursday 3 February 2022, the PM appeared to have backed down, telling reporters he had not been talking about Starmer's "personal record" when he was DPP, adding: "I totally understand that he had nothing to do personally with those decisions. I was making a point about his responsibility for the organisation as a whole."[4]
Resignation
Later, on 3 February 2022, Munira Mirza wrote a letter of resignation:
Dear Prime Minister,
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.
Yours sincerely,
Munira[5]
Personal
Munira Mirza is married to Dougie Smith, a former organiser of swinger parties who has worked as senior Conservative Party aide for David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, although according to the Daily Telegraph his precise role is uncertain.[6][7][8] She had a son in 2013.[9]
Related Document
| Title | Type | Publication date | Author(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document:Parody Britain and the Death of the Fourth Estate | Article | 9 December 2021 | Mike Small | This is a ruling elite, a governing class that comes from the same strata, shares the same education and is literally inter-married. In this context the idea that such a media can hold the powerful to account is of course laughable. The British media is incestuous and dysfunctional. |
References
- ↑ "Dismay as No 10 adviser is chosen to set up UK race inequality commission"
- ↑ "Parody Britain and the Death of the Fourth Estate"
- ↑ "Who are the journalists that DPP Starmer prosecuted?"
- ↑ "Boris Johnson's policy chief Munira Mirza resigns over PM's Savile remarks"
- ↑ "Exclusive: No. 10 policy chief quits over Boris’s Jimmy Savile slur"
- ↑ "Top Tory aide is king of the urban swingers"
- ↑ "Wife of Fever Parties’ founder to head up Prime Minister’s inequality commission"
- ↑ "Meet the most influential couple in Downing Street...you've never heard of"
- ↑ "London Calling: Munira Mirza interview"
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