Rishi Sunak has heaped pressure on Boris Johnson to apologise for aiming a discredited slur at the Labour leader.
The prime minister has been criticised from figures across the political spectrum for falsely saying Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile.
Earlier today, one of the PM’s closest aides resigned in disgust at the comment which he made in the Commons on Monday.
Mr Johnson has backtracked to an extent but has refused to apologise for the claim.
Now the chancellor, who today refused to rule out running to be Tory party leader, threw his boss under the bus.
Asked about the row at a press conference, Mr Sunak said: ‘Being honest I wouldn’t have said it and I’m glad that the prime minister clarified what he meant.’
Mr Johnson is reeling from the shock exit of Munira Mirza, a close advisor who has been at his side since he was London mayor.
In a damning resignation letter obtained by The Spectator, she wrote: ‘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 usual 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.’
While some in his team have defended him, Mr Johnson’s deputy Dominic Raab has also distanced himself from the remarks.
After a week in which the number of Tory MPs calling for a leadership election has slowly crept up, Mr Sunak has not ruled out running.
Earlier in the day, he called it a ‘hypothetical question’ and said the PM retained his full support.
However, in a BBC interview he acknowledged that some Conservative MPs would like to see him replace Mr Johnson in No 10.
‘Well, that’s very kind of them to suggest that, but what I think people want from me is to focus on my job.
‘I know a few of my colleagues have said that and they’ll have their reasons for doing that, but I don’t think that’s the situation we’re in.
‘The prime minister has my full support. And what people want from me is to be getting on with my job, which is what I’m doing.’
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