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BBC star says Keir Starmer 'not fit for office' as PM 'finished'

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BBC Radio commentator and GB News star Lee Harris has claimed prime minister Keir Starmer is "not fit for office" amid rumours the PM is "finished". GB News aired a segment showing Starmer's responses to questions about the Southport stabbing in 2024, which saw three young girls murdered.

Starmer was criticised over his decision not to provide details of attacker Axel Rudakubana, leading to the spreading of misinformation online that led the public to think something was being withheld - with only the confirmation that the attack was "not terror related" being released. As Rudakubana was only 17 at the time, he was not named by police.

The lack of information led to riots, with rumours circulating that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker - leading to rioters targeting mosques. Journalists have now argued Keir Starmer could have headed off these riots, with ITV's Paul Brown confronting him at a press conference.

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He said: "All of us as journalists understand the risk of contempt of court, especially prejudicing a trial, but we live in a different age now where misinformation and disinformation spreads at lightning speed online.

"I was in Southport the day of the attacks - there was a short window in which information could have been released before charge, before any risk of prejudicing a trial, why didn't you do that and do you think it was a mistake not to provide that detail then?"

Starmer responded: "It is true we live in a different age in that information is now available online as well as offline, and I understand the frustration of all, including some journalists, who observe the rules and don't report what they know because they know that the law doesn't permit it and it runs the risk of collapsing a trial, only to see information online that doesn't appear to be following the same rules.

"That is not acceptable. That has to be addressed and will be part of what we are looking at because that can't be right. But in relation to the central crux of your question, the importance of the rule of not disclosing this information is to ensure that a trial can take place, and that where an individual is guilty, they're held to account, as has now happened in this case.

"That is why the law carefully restricts what can be said by anyone, not just me as prime minister, but anyone in these circumstances. It is done to protect the families and the victims. It is the choice I would make to ensure my first thoughts are with the victims and their families."

Now commenting on the resurfaced clip from the announcement of a public inquiry earlier this year, BBC Radio star Lee Harris has argued: "Keir Starmer's excuse that revealing Axel Rudakubana's terror links would collapse the case was a LIE!

"His a**e-covering narrative fell apart instantly, with journalists and barristers lining up to confirm it's complete nonsense. [...] Not fit for office," he alleged.

Some viewers suspect the end is near for the prime minister, with one tweeting: "Unbelievable he's still in a job. Clock's ticking!" Another said: "And today, despite the fact that Avon and Somerset Police are investigating claims of hate crimes at Glastonbury, he wades in with comments that could prejudice the cases."

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