Keir Starmer Faces Backlash Over Misleading Commons Statement on Boris Johnson

[Social Media]

 

Keir Starmer has come under mounting pressure to issue an apology to Members of Parliament after incorrectly suggesting that Boris Johnson has a criminal conviction. The controversy arose during heated exchanges in the House of Commons, as Starmer sought to defend his appointment of Louise Haigh to the Cabinet, despite knowing about her prior conviction for fraud.  

 

The clash was ignited when Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch questioned Starmer’s decision, stating that the public deserved clarity on why he "knowingly appointed a convicted fraudster to be his transport secretary. What was he thinking?" Badenoch further remarked, "The country needs conviction politicians, not politicians with convictions."  

 

In response, Starmer took aim at Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, claiming, "I gently remind her that two of her predecessors had convictions for breaking the Covid rules." This comment referred to the £50 fixed penalty notices issued to Johnson and Sunak for attending a lockdown gathering in Downing Street. However, these notices are not legally regarded as criminal convictions, a distinction Starmer’s critics were quick to highlight.  

 

Boris Johnson accused Starmer of misleading the Commons, calling for him to "correct the record." He described the accusation as a resigning offense, urging the Prime Minister to withdraw the statement immediately. Former Solicitor General Sir Michael Ellis joined the chorus of criticism, emphasizing that, as a former Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer should understand the legal distinction.  

 

"A former DPP really ought to know that fixed penalty notices are not criminal convictions," Ellis argued. "By that token, he has just suggested that millions of people handed parking tickets now have criminal convictions, which is plainly nonsense. It is factually wrong, and he should correct the record."  

 

After the debate, a spokesperson for Badenoch reiterated that fixed penalty notices do not constitute criminal convictions. Meanwhile, a Labour source dismissed the criticism, signaling Starmer would not retract his statement. The source asserted, "If the Conservatives want to have a row about the extent of their criminality while in Downing Street, that’s fine by us. The fact is two of the leader of the opposition’s predecessors were found guilty of breaking the law with partying in Downing Street while telling everyone else to follow the rules."  

 

Adding to the controversy was the resignation of Louise Haigh last week. Haigh stepped down after details of her spent conviction for fraud—falsely reporting the loss of a work phone—emerged. Downing Street has not disputed her claim that Starmer was informed about her offense four years earlier. However, Starmer has remained tight-lipped about his reasons for appointing her, simply stating that she "was right to resign when further information came forward."

 

When pressed on the nature of this additional information or the full extent of his prior knowledge, Starmer accused Badenoch of "obsessing with Westminster issues." Badenoch, however, hit back, accusing Starmer of perpetrating "a fraud on the British people" by appointing someone convicted of fraud and allowing her to approve significant pay rises for trade union allies.  

 

As the fallout continues, the dispute has become a flashpoint, highlighting the intense scrutiny and political brinkmanship in Westminster. Both sides remain entrenched, with Starmer facing calls for accountability and the Conservatives leveraging the incident to question his judgment and leadership.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail 2024-12-06

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Keir Starmer has come under mounting pressure to issue an apology to Members of Parliament after incorrectly suggesting that Boris Johnson has a criminal conviction. The controversy arose during heated exchanges in the House of Commons, as Starmer sought to defend his appointment of Louise Haigh to the Cabinet, despite knowing about her prior conviction for fraud.  

 

The clash was ignited when Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch questioned Starmer’s decision, stating that the public deserved clarity on why he "knowingly appointed a convicted fraudster to be his transport secretary. What was he thinking?" Badenoch further remarked, "The country needs conviction politicians, not politicians with convictions."  

 

In response, Starmer took aim at Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, claiming, "I gently remind her that two of her predecessors had convictions for breaking the Covid rules." This comment referred to the £50 fixed penalty notices issued to Johnson and Sunak for attending a lockdown gathering in Downing Street. However, these notices are not legally regarded as criminal convictions, a distinction Starmer’s critics were quick to highlight.  

 

 

Boris Johnson accused Starmer of misleading the Commons, calling for him to "correct the record." He described the accusation as a resigning offense, urging the Prime Minister to withdraw the statement immediately. Former Solicitor General Sir Michael Ellis joined the chorus of criticism, emphasizing that, as a former Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer should understand the legal distinction.  

 

"A former DPP really ought to know that fixed penalty notices are not criminal convictions," Ellis argued. "By that token, he has just suggested that millions of people handed parking tickets now have criminal convictions, which is plainly nonsense. It is factually wrong, and he should correct the record."  

 

After the debate, a spokesperson for Badenoch reiterated that fixed penalty notices do not constitute criminal convictions. Meanwhile, a Labour source dismissed the criticism, signaling Starmer would not retract his statement. The source asserted, "If the Conservatives want to have a row about the extent of their criminality while in Downing Street, that’s fine by us. The fact is two of the leader of the opposition’s predecessors were found guilty of breaking the law with partying in Downing Street while telling everyone else to follow the rules."  

 

Adding to the controversy was the resignation of Louise Haigh last week. Haigh stepped down after details of her spent conviction for fraud—falsely reporting the loss of a work phone—emerged. Downing Street has not disputed her claim that Starmer was informed about her offense four years earlier. However, Starmer has remained tight-lipped about his reasons for appointing her, simply stating that she "was right to resign when further information came forward."

 

When pressed on the nature of this additional information or the full extent of his prior knowledge, Starmer accused Badenoch of "obsessing with Westminster issues." Badenoch, however, hit back, accusing Starmer of perpetrating "a fraud on the British people" by appointing someone convicted of fraud and allowing her to approve significant pay rises for trade union allies.  

 

As the fallout continues, the dispute has become a flashpoint, highlighting the intense scrutiny and political brinkmanship in Westminster. Both sides remain entrenched, with Starmer facing calls for accountability and the Conservatives leveraging the incident to question his judgment and leadership.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail 2024-12-06

 

 

 

I like Starmer more and more.❤️

[JonnyF]

Starmer clueless on virtually every issue. As a lawyer you would think he would know the difference. 

 

Oh, he also broke the Covid rules but hypocrisy is second nature to him.

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/01/13/keir-starmer-branded-absolute-hypocrite-drinking-staff-lockdown/

 

[BritManToo]

I actually agree with Starmer on this one, nobody with parking fines or other trivial traffic offences should be allowed to work for the government or hold public office.

[Will B Good]

 

 

Deary me. These right-wingers do get their knickers in a twist over the most minor of things......whilst Party-Gate is blithely written off as something that never even happened....555

[RichardColeman]

15 hours ago, Social Media said:

Keir Starmer has come under mounting pressure to issue an apology to Members of Parliament after incorrectly suggesting that Boris Johnson has a criminal conviction misleading the public on election promises

There corrected

[James105]

Did Badenoch not have the wherewithal to think on her feet and correct him on the spot about this?  Doesn't bode well for her really. Still think Jenrick was the obvious and better choice. 

 

Starmer is simply a moron and he has already proven how bad he was at his previous job with the celebrity pedophiles that escaped justice under his watch, so it comes as no surprise he doesn't even know what a conviction is.  I just wish he would get his inevitable resignation over and done with so the country can start to begin the recovery from his disastrous time in office.  Not that he wouldn't be replaced with another absolute clown of course but its difficult to think of anyone worse suited to this job (apart from Labbot of course) 

[RuamRudy]

There are so many valid reasons to despise a man so utterly amoral and selfish as Johnson; it is beyond belief that someone seemingly as smart as Starmer could allow the charlatan to play the victim. 

[Nick Carter icp]

9 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

There are so many valid reasons to despise a man so utterly amoral and selfish as Johnson; it is beyond belief that someone seemingly as smart as Starmer could allow the charlatan to play the victim. 

 

   The fact of the matter is that Starmer did make false accusation about Johnson and that means that Johnson is the victim of starners false allegation 

[RuamRudy]

1 minute ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   The fact of the matter is that Starmer did make false accusation about Johnson and that means that Johnson is the victim of starners false allegation 

 

I know, and that's the infuriating aspect of it. Johnson deserves nothing but scorn and opprobrium for the rest of his days, so for Starmer to hand him an opportunity to play the victim is such a schoolboy error.