Furious Boris Johnson backlash after mob surrounds Keir Starmer and screams ‘traitor' and ‘paedophile protector'

Watch: Keir Starmer bundled into a police car outside Parliament

Boris Johnson has been accused of inciting protesters after Sir Keir Starmer was bundled into a police car to escape a mob hurling abuse at him, including “paedophile protector” and “traitor”.

Amid angry clashes at around 5pm on Monday, officers stepped in to protect the Opposition leader as the group followed him and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy from outside Scotland Yard.

Shouts of “Jimmy Savile“, “paedophile protector”, “traitor” and “disgrace” could be heard as Lammy, along with several Labour staffers, appeared to attempt to shield Starmer from the crowd.

Police told Yahoo News UK that two arrests were made in connection with the incident after an emergency worker was hit with a traffic cone.

It comes just days after Johnson falsely accused the Labour leader of failing to prosecute Savile when he was director of public prosecutions.

The prime minister has been widely condemned over the comments, for which he has yet to apologise for and which have been shared previously by far-right conspiracy theorists.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was mobbed by protesters in Westminster on Monday.

The Metropolitan police have made two arrests in connection with the incident.

Labour MPs hit out at Johnson following the incident.

“This is where the prime minister's lies have got us,” said shadow environment minister Alex Sobel. “We can’t call out his lies in the Chamber and this is the result. He’s not fit for office.”

Labour MP Chris Bryant described the scenes as “appalling”.

“People were shouting all sorts at Keir, including 'Jimmy Savile'”, he said. “This is what happens when a prime minister descends into the gutter and recycles lies from hard-right conspiracy theorists. Political poison has an effect. Johnson has no moral compass.”

Jess Phillips, Labour MP and shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, said she had “no doubt” Johnson's comments had caused the scenes.

“I'd say I have received death threats that quote Boris Johnson in the past so know how dangerous his words can be,” she told Yahoo News UK.

“I have no doubt that the lies Boris Johnson told have caused this, all while he has overseen an increase in child exploitation and a reduction in conviction of abusers since he has been prime minister.”

Police bundled Starmer into a car and drove him away from the mob. (PA Images)

Sadiq Khan, London mayor, said: “This is what happens when fake news is amplified and given credibility by people who should know better.”

On Friday, Munira Mirza, Johnson’s head of policy and ally of 14 years, resigned following his controversial remarks.

“I believe it was wrong for you to imply this week that Keir Starmer was personally responsible for allowing Jimmy Savile to escape justice,” Mirza wrote in a resignation letter.

She added: “This was not the normal cut-and-thrust of politics; it was an inappropriate and partisan reference to a horrendous case of child sex abuse.”

Some Conservative MPs have also expressed their concern on Twitter, condemning the Starmer incident, with several calling for the prime minister to withdraw his comments.

“What happened to Keir Starmer tonight outside parliament is appalling,” said Julian Smith, Tory MP for Skipton and Ripon.

“It is really important for our democracy and for his security that the false Savile slurs made against him are withdrawn in full.”

Robert Largan, Tory MP for High Peak, tweeted in response to Smith: “I agree with Julian. Words matter.

“What we say and how we say it echoes out far beyond Parliament. It can have serious real world consequences.

“Elected representatives have a responsibility to lower the temperature of debate, not add fuel to the fire.”

Munira Mirza, long-term friend and ally of Boris Johnson, resigned from her role as head of policy in Number 10 over Johnson’s failure to withdraw his false claims about Starmer and Jimmy Savile. (Getty Images)

Last Thursday, Rishi Sunak told journalists, “being honest, I wouldn't have said it” when asked at a press conference about the remarks.

The Met Police said of Monday evening's incident: “Shortly after 1710hrs on Monday, 7 February, a man who had been surrounded by a group of protesters near to New Scotland Yard, was taken away from the scene by a police car.

“A man and a woman were arrested at the scene for assault of an emergency worker after a traffic cone was thrown at a police officer.

“They have been taken into custody.”

Footage posted of the incident on social media also showed Piers Corbyn, the COVID conspiracy theorist and brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, addressing the crowd before the incident – and later leading chants of “resist, defy, do not comply”.

The mob also claimed Starmer was failing to stand up for “the working class man” and accused him of not “opposing” the government.