ALISTER Jack has refused to distance himself from the Prime Minister’s bizarre Jimmy Savile claim adding it is part of the “cut and thrust of politics” at Westminster. 

The Scotland Secretary was given the opportunity to weigh in on Johnson’s despatch box attack on Keir Starmer, where he alleged the now-Labour leader stopped Savile being prosecuted as a paedophile during his time as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Starmer was not involved directly in the handling of Savile’s case, instead Surrey Police and a CPS reviewing lawyer looked into a number of allegations in 2007 and 2008.

READ MORE: Tory MSP Stephen Kerr left red-faced in row over 'Trumpian' Voter ID laws

Savile was arrested and interviewed under caution for the complaints of sexual abuse against young girls, but police didn’t charge him as his victims allegedly felt unable to testify.

The PM’s remark has caused outrage as many claim Johnson was “parroting right wing attack lines” against Starmer, and that he was spreading disinformation.

Johnson made the comments at the start of a marathon two hour questioning session from MPs over the Sue Gray report into lockdown breaking gatherings at Number 10.

And now, senior Scottish Tory Jack declined to criticise the Prime Minister when asked about the Savile statement.

The National:

Speaking on ITV Border, Jack (pictured) said: “I mean I’m not going to comment on the remarks regarding Jimmy Savile as I simply don’t know the details of when Starmer was the director of prosecutions…”

Political editor Peter MacMahon interjected: “But Secretary of State I don’t mean to interrupt too much but that was a very serious allegation made at the despatch box by the Prime Minister about someone who was knighted for his services to public prosecution, now the leader of the Labour Party.

“Your former colleague said it was a smear and you don't seem to have an opinion on that?”

READ MORE: Omicron subvariant BA.2 cases confirmed in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon says

Jack replied: “Well, because I don't know, I'm not going to judge because as I said, I don't know the detail of what happened back then.

“So I'm not going to get involved in that disagreement.

“You know, I hear from all sides of the chamber people that say things that I would say in my own mind think were a smear, but that's the cut and thrust of politics at Westminster it’s a very adversarial chamber, and things that you know, well, that's how it is and as to whether or not the remark was valid, that's for others to judge.”

SNP, Labour and some Tory MPs have called on the UK Government to retract the claim - but no ministers have so far come forward to do so.

However, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab both entertained the plausibility of the accusations instead.

Dorries made headlines on Monday evening after insisting “the Prime Minister tells the truth” amid criticism of the Savile comments.

It comes as Savile’s victims are said to be “universally appalled and disgusted” by Johnson’s comment in the Commons.

READ MORE: 'Inoperable ulcer': Council row erupts over offensive 'mud throwing' in castle battle

Richard Scorer, head of abuse and public inquiries at law firm Slater and Gordon, said many of the victims he represented feel the PM is "using" them to climb out of a "political hole".

Speaking to the Mirror, Scorer said: "[The victims] are universally appalled and disgusted by those remarks and want him to apologise.

"They also feel he should withdraw those remarks."