MY LETTER TO THE GUARDIAN

I have today sent the following letter to the Guardian Newspaper:

To the Editor:

The hypocrisy of Chris Philps Undersecretary of State for Tech and the Digital Economy is symptomatic of every defender of Boris Johnson lamentable behaviour and duplicity. How they can make up excuses for calculated falsifications of facts in a vain attempt to excuse their own actions and those of their leader is uncanny. When asked this morning on the Today morning news program by Nick Robinson why Boris Johnson, who brought up the matter of Jimmy Saville in the House, suggesting the leader of the opposition failed to prosecute him, which was a lie, and which has caused outrageous thuggish action in the street threatening Mr Starmer, should not apologies and categorically withdraw the accusation.

Mr Philps claimed he should not and had no need to, as Mr Johnson later clarified his comment, stating that he did not mean that Mr Starmer was personally responsible but he was in charge of the CPS at the time. When pressed, why bring it up in the first place, Mr Philps went on to say that politicians bring up their opponents past record all the time, it's part and parcel of political sparring. Mr Philps again repeated that Mr Starmer was head of the CPS at the time of the Savile incident, and that at some point Mr Starmer even apologised on behalf of the whole CPS for not having taken action.  As the person in charge he was responsible for the CPS.  He also repeated that Mr Johnson had clarified his statement. He kept saying this as if it was an answer to the question, why did Boris Johnson mention it in the first place?

Was Mr Philps seriously equating the actions of the personnel in the prime minister’s office, with those of the inactivity of certain lawyers at the CPS. Was he seriously suggesting that there is no difference between Keir Starmer’s role at CPS head office, and his own at 10 Downing Street? They both have a shared responsibility, is that it? If Mr Starmer did not resign, why should he? Is this what it was about?

I wasn’t aware that there are pictures of Mr Starmer, together with his wife and his lawyer colleagues, having a work’s drink over the Savile file. I was not aware the Mr Starmer had some of those same lawyers come to his house with a birthday cake. I wasn’t aware that those same lawyers sent out for a suitcase of drink and had a quiz with Mr Starmer. I am clearly missing some vital information.

I am also unaware of a report on the matter claiming there was a serious failure of leadership at the CPS at the time. There certainly were failures by the police, to whom complaints were made, to take any action, and failures by some CPS officials to take action. Mr Starmer, although far removed from the situation, did the decent thing and apologised on behalf of the CPS and Police for its failures.

Mr Johnson, on the other hand, is right in the thick of it. He participated in and was party to the party, but behaves as if he wasn’t there at all. The serious failures of leadership mentioned by Ms Gray, seemingly have nothing to do with him.  He claims he “gets it” and will institute a changing of the guard, as if it is all down to those subordinates around him. He apologies for everyone else’s disfunction save his own, which he clearly does not “Get”.

So while his cabinet and supporters demean themselves with tortuous excuses and nonsensical explanations in attempts to ‘move on’, deflecting serious questions on integrity, accountability, objectivity, openness, honesty and leadership, he carries on as if it is all too silly and meaningless in the grand scheme of his getting on with the job of government.

The fact that he is incapable and incompetent, mendacious and arrogant almost in the manner of a Donald Trump, seem to have escaped him and his simpering colleagues who assume that by offering their pusillanimous support, they will keep their jobs.  A general election cannot come too soon. A serious campaign to oust these perfidious members of parliament is an imperative if this country is ever to regain any respect in the world.