CAMPAIGNERS and MPs are calling for new laws to stop politicians deliberately lying, with Boris Johnson accused of using “Trump-style tactics” in his false claims against Keir Starmer.
Starmer was accosted outside Westminster last week by demonstrators who hurled abuse, including accusations of “protecting paedophiles” and chants about sex offender Jimmy Savile. The mobbing of the Labour leader came after Johnson claimed in the House of Commons that Starmer had failed to prosecute Savile while director of public prosecutions – an assertion proven to be untrue.
With concern growing about lying in politics, campaigners are calling for new laws to be introduced, similar to those which regulate advertising, with the aim of holding politicians to account.
An Early Day Motion seeking a debate in Parliament on a new law to “strengthen the ability of Parliament and the public to hold politicians to account for deliberate lying and misrepresentations” has received cross-party support, including backing from a number of SNP MPs.
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A public petition set up to support “make lying in politics illegal” has also received nearly 200,000 signatures.
Matt Hawkins, co-director of cross-party campaign group Compassion in Politics, said the attack launched by Johnson on Starmer was damaging both in the short and long term.
“In the immediate term it is undoubted that those who attacked and assaulted Keir Starmer were riled up by Johnson’s words,” he said.
“They were using his language, and in that sense Johnson mainstreamed a complete fabrication and mainstreamed the violent action of that group.
“MPs we have spoken to in private say that the violent threats and intimidation they receive does have a serious impact on the way they feel about voting, and on the statements they are prepared to make in public.
“If that is happening, that is not a democracy; where people are being press-ganged into one view or another and it’s just whoever shouts loudest wins.”
Hawkins said it also reflected an increasing move towards some politicians making misleading statements.
“That completely erodes trust and confidence because no matter who the politician speaking is, the public will not know whether they can believe them and it sullies the whole standards of debate,” he added.
In the wake of the ambush on Starmer, Labour said there was “concern” that Johnson had given “legitimacy” to far-right conspiracies that had potentially fuelled the demonstrators.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the abuse as “sickening”, saying: “I don’t think any politician should have to put up with what Keir Starmer experienced last night.”
She added: “It is a reflection of the toxic cocktail of conspiracy theories, smears and lies that swirl around our politics now.”
Hawkins said Johnson was using “Trump-like” tactics and said being viewed as distrustful actually suited some politicians.
“They are very glad to see that is the case, as there are no standards they have to uphold any more,” he added. He also said the situation was unfair on the “vast majority” of politicians worried about the state of politics, and that regulation was needed to prevent lying in Parliament.
“We have a situation at the moment where there is no real mechanism by which a politicians can be held to account for lying, except for at a general election,” he said. “Obviously there is a huge delay between the time of them committing a lie to paper or saying it in public and then the actual public recourse to action. So many other factors can become involved.
“We have worked with Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP, on a bill that would effectively bring some of the rules that regulate advertising or marketing and the need for honesty and bring it into politics.
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“What it would mean is you would create a regulator for ensuring honesty – it could be in parliament or it could be independent – and they are able to review claims made by politicians, whether it be in advertising or in speeches.
“And then they have processes in place which actually hold the politician to account.”
The Early Day Motion tabled by Saville Roberts last month has so far been backed by 38 MPs from the SNP, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP.
Hawkins added: “We need to change the rules as certain politicians are bending them.”
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