Boris Johnson must apologise for claiming Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute paedophile Jimmy Savile, Nicola Sturgeon has insisted.
The first minister accused her Tory rival of “weaponising online conspiracy theories” after the Labour leader was swarmed by protesters in London.
Sir Keir was mobbed by anti-vaccine demonstrators branding him a “traitor” as they repeated the false slur from Mr Johnson.
The Labour chief was given a guarded escort from police due to concerns for his safety.
But the prime minister has repeatedly refused to say sorry for the remark despite anger from his own benches.
‘Stirring up hate’
Ms Sturgeon wrote online: “Any politician choosing to weaponise online conspiracy theories against opponents knows fine well that they risk stirring up the kind of hate and abuse that Keir Starmer experienced today.
“If he has any decency at all, the PM will now apologise unreservedly.”
The Conservative leader hit out with the untrue jibe last Monday after he made a statement to parliament over the Downing street parties scandal.
He said Sir Keir failed to take action against notorious predator Mr Savile when he was director of public prosecutions.
His outgoing No10 policy chief Munira Mirza cited the slur as the reason for her departure after she quit her post last week.
Labour’s foreign secretary, David Lammy, was also heckled by the mob alongside Sir Keir as he hit out at Mr Johnson.
Intimidation, harassment and lies have no place in our democracy.
– David Lammy MP
He wrote: “No surprise the conspiracy theorist thugs who harassed Keir Starmer and I repeated slurs we heard from Boris Johnson last week at the despatch box.
“Intimidation, harassment and lies have no place in our democracy. And they won’t ever stop me doing my job.”
Tory MP and ex-minister Julian Smith has repeatedly urged the prime minister to withdraw the claim.
Tory MP slams ‘appalling’ incident
He said: “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“It is really important for our democracy & for his security that the false Savile slurs made against him are withdrawn in full.”
SNP Westminster chief Ian Blackford wrote: “This is dreadful that Keir Starmer has had to face this, it is not acceptable.
“We must be better than this. Words and actions have consequences Boris Johnson would do well to reflect on this.”
Any politician choosing to weaponise online conspiracy theories against opponents knows fine well that they risk stirring up the kind of hate and abuse that Keir Starmer experienced today. If he has any decency at all, the PM will now apologise unreservedly. https://t.co/PkctiSZL1L
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) February 7, 2022