Is it worth it? Probably not.
The attacks by the PM on Sir Kier Starmer reek of desperation and none more than his accusation that the former Director of Public Prosecution is the friend of terrorists. What was the line “We convict terrorists, Kier Starmer invoices them”?
The PM however has been very badly advised because:
Most people have a fairly good idea of how the legal system works and know that even terrorists or child molesters get a defence barrister and more importantly if they were ever in the dock they would want a very good one.
The Tory party has a fair share of barristers who are MPs and drawing up a list of the nasty pieces of work they have all defended over the years would be the work of a slow afternoon.
The PM was stupid enough to repeat the allegations outside the House of Commons.
The last point is the key one because as any of his legally trained MPs, his Justice Secretary, his Lord Chancellor and a couple of thousand government lawyers could tell him, saying it outside Parliament could amount to a very serious libel.
So it is all really down to Sir Keir, he could sue and give very large amounts of Rishi Sunak’s money to charitable causes if he wins. But that would look petty, would clog up the courts, could be made to drag on past the election and would publicise the PM’s baseless claims.
If I was him I would confront the PM in Parliament instead. Perhaps say that the PM will be even more upset to learn that Sir Keir has proudly defended child murderers, rapists, granny killers and pederasts. Then when the PM is licking his lips at the prospect of damning Sir Kier, admit his mistake and point out that he is actually reading from a list of cases Tory MP’s have defended.
Then he can ask the PM to condemn his own MPs, and then he can point out the fact that the PM has repeated the allegations against Sir Keir outside the House. Then invite him to apologise, reaffirm his faith in the British legal system, declare firmly that everyone is innocent until proved guilty and make a generous payment to food banks, local school rebuilding funds, trans rights charities, immigrant charities and the junior doctor’s strike fund.
I know, I know, it is a sad little fantasy. Sir Keir is probably best to let this particularly appalling fall from decent political discourse wither and die. Or at least to let people realise what a terrible, crass, insensitive, nasty person we have in No. 10.
Just like the PM’s jokes about trans rights when the parents of a girl who was brutally murdered are visiting the House, let him stew in his own juice. Let him send out deeply embarrassed junior ministers to defend him again and again; it worked so well for Boris Johnson.
All politicians hate apologising and admitting mistakes, but with this PM it is becoming a millstone around his neck. Maybe best leave it there.
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
By Jonty Bloom Media