LONDON — British lawmakers from Boris Johnson’s ruling Conservative Party are demanding that he apologize and withdraw false claims about the leader of the opposition Labour Party, which appeared to stir up protesters who mobbed his political rival Monday night.
Demonstrators protesting coronavirus vaccines had gathered near the Houses of Parliament in London on Monday and were seen in online videos surrounding and jostling Labour Party leader Keir Starmer in the street. Some shouted “traitor” and accusations of “protecting pedophiles.” British media reported that one protester carried a noose as Starmer was hurriedly escorted into a police car in scenes that ignited anger among lawmakers from all sides.
Last week, Johnson made a jibe in Parliament in which he accused Starmer of failing to prosecute a prominent British television personality, Jimmy Savile, who gained renown in the 1960s but was later revealed to be one of the country’s most notorious child abusers. In 2009, prosecutors had decided against prosecuting Savile because of insufficient evidence. Starmer worked as a lawyer leading public prosecutions at the time but was not involved in the decision not to prosecute Savile. Johnson’s claim was widely debunked by British officials and media, while Starmer accused Johnson of “parroting the conspiracy theories of violent fascists.”
Johnson clarified his remarks about Starmer on Feb. 3, saying he had not meant to imply that the opposition leader had personally failed...
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