Did Keir Starmer Break The Law?

As a former lawyer and Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of breaking the law on several occasions. In 2022, Boris Johnson falsely claimed that Starmer was responsible for the non-prosecution of Jimmy Savile when he was Director of Public Prosecutions. Starmer has also been accused of breaking parliamentary rules by not declaring gifts and hospitality he received. However, there is no evidence that Starmer has broken the law, and he has denied any wrongdoing.

Did Keir Starmer break the law by not prosecuting Jimmy Savile?

In 2012, it was revealed that Jimmy Savile, the late TV and radio presenter, was one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders. In the wake of this, questions were raised about why Savile had not been prosecuted earlier, and whether Keir Starmer, then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), had been involved in this decision.

In 2007 and 2008, Surrey Police and Sussex Police each investigated complaints that Savile had "engaged in sexual behaviour with young girls". Savile was interviewed under caution by Surrey Police in October 2009 but denied any wrongdoing and was not arrested. No prosecution was brought forward, as none of the victims were "prepared to support any police action", for example by testifying in court.

Keir Starmer was indeed the head of the CPS at the time, from 2008 until 2013. However, there is no evidence that he was directly involved in the decision not to prosecute Savile. The CPS is independent of the police and government and decides which cases should be prosecuted based on the evidence presented to them. While Starmer was the most senior public prosecutor in England and Wales, the CPS employs about 6,000 staff, half of whom are lawyers who make decisions on which cases should go ahead.

In this case, the decision not to prosecute was made by a reviewing lawyer for the CPS, who deemed there to be insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction. While this decision was criticised in a later investigation, which was commissioned by Starmer himself and carried out by his Principal Legal Advisor, Alison Levitt QC, the investigation did not suggest that Starmer was personally involved. The investigation report stated that there was "no reference within the [investigation] report to any involvement from the DPP in the decision-making in the case".

Following the publication of the investigation report in 2013, Starmer issued a public apology, expressing his hope that it would be a "watershed moment" for the CPS. He also announced changes to how sexual abuse investigations were handled, including the formation of a panel to review cases of sexual abuse.

Did Keir Starmer break the law by not prosecuting police officers who killed Jean Charles de Menezes?

In 2009, Sir Keir Starmer—then the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)—upheld the decision not to prosecute the police officers who had killed Jean Charles de Menezes. The case was a High Court appeal lodged by the family of de Menezes, who was killed in a 'counter-terror' operation during which the Metropolitan Police consistently lied about the circumstances of his death.

Starmer's decision not to prosecute was controversial. Some critics, including those who hoped he would be more radical in challenging police abuse, expressed anger and frustration. However, it is important to note that Starmer's role as DPP and Head of the CPS placed him in a position of responsibility for weighing the evidence and making cautious, considered decisions.

While Starmer's decision not to prosecute the police officers in the de Menezes case may have been unpopular with some, there is no indication that he broke the law by upholding the previous decision not to prosecute. As a lawyer and human rights adviser with a background in criminal defence work, Starmer's legal career before entering politics in 2015 suggests a commitment to justice and human rights.

Did Keir Starmer break the law by not prosecuting an individual involved in the Rochdale child sex abuse ring?

In 2009, while Keir Starmer was Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), a decision was made not to prosecute an individual who was part of the Rochdale child sex abuse ring. However, there is no evidence that Starmer was personally involved in this decision. The individual in question was later prosecuted in 2011, after Nazir Afzal was appointed as the CPS chief prosecutor for north-west England and reviewed and reversed the initial decision.

At the time, the CPS viewed the main victim as "unreliable", and prosecutors did not think she would give credible evidence. However, in an interview with BBC Verify, Nazir Afzal stated that he believed what the victim was saying and that he had reviewed and reversed the decision.

While there is no evidence that Starmer was personally involved in the decision not to prosecute the individual in question, he has faced criticism for his role as head of the CPS during this period. Maggie Oliver, a former Manchester detective who campaigns for victims of child sex abuse, stated that the CPS "bear a great deal of responsibility for the failures around this issue", including bringing inadequate charges and blaming victims.

In response to the criticism, Starmer has defended his record as head of the CPS, highlighting that he changed the prosecution approach to "challenge myths and stereotypes" that had stopped victims from being heard, left office when the CPS had the highest number of child sex abuse prosecutions on record, reopened cases that had been closed, and brought the first prosecution of an Asian grooming gang. He also revised the guidance on child sexual exploitation in 2013 to make future prosecutions easier.

In conclusion, while there is no evidence that Keir Starmer was personally involved in the decision not to prosecute an individual involved in the Rochdale child sex abuse ring, he has faced criticism for his role as head of the CPS during this period and has defended his record by highlighting the steps he took to improve the prosecution of child sex abuse cases.

Did Keir Starmer break the law by prosecuting Omari Roberts?

In 2008, Keir Starmer became Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). During his tenure, he was involved in the decision to prosecute Omari Roberts, a trainee builder who killed a teenage burglar in a struggle at Roberts's mother's home. The prosecution's case relied on the evidence of a second teenage burglar and was dropped on 19 April 2010, with Roberts being found not guilty.

As a lawyer, Starmer mostly dealt with criminal defence work on human rights matters. He served as a legal officer for the campaign group Liberty and was a member of Doughty Street Chambers, primarily working on human rights issues. He also served as a human rights adviser to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Starmer was involved in several high-profile cases during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the CPS. In addition to the Omari Roberts case, he helped bring the murderers of Stephen Lawrence to justice, changed guidelines to better support victims of sexual and domestic violence, and prosecuted MPs for misuse of expenses.

There is no evidence to suggest that Starmer broke the law by prosecuting Omari Roberts. As a lawyer and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer's role was to seek justice based on the available evidence and within the boundaries of the law. While some may disagree with his decisions or argue that he made mistakes, there is no indication that he acted unlawfully.

However, it is worth noting that Starmer has faced criticism for some of his decisions during his tenure. For example, he has been criticized for upholding the decision not to prosecute the police officers involved in the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes and for his handling of the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal, where delays in prosecutions and perceived failures to prioritize victims' welfare sparked controversy.

Did Keir Starmer break the law by accepting gifts from donors?

In September 2024, Sir Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, faced criticism for accepting gifts from Labour donors. Starmer also faced accusations of breaking parliamentary rules by not declaring gifts worth £5,000 bought for his wife by a Labour donor. That same month, it was reported that Starmer had received £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality since December 2019—two-and-a-half times more than any other MP.

While there is no evidence to suggest that Starmer broke the law by accepting these gifts, the controversy surrounding them highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in political donations and declarations. It is essential for politicians to uphold the highest standards of integrity and avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

The UK has strict laws and guidelines regarding political donations and declarations to ensure transparency and prevent corruption. The Electoral Commission, an independent body, is responsible for regulating political finances in the UK. It requires the disclosure of donations above a certain threshold and publishes these records, allowing the public to scrutinize the sources and amounts of funding received by politicians and political parties.

In conclusion, while Keir Starmer did not break the law by accepting gifts from donors, the controversy surrounding these gifts underscores the need for transparency and adherence to the highest ethical standards in political financing.

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