No 10 orchestrated Savile attack against Farage
Multiple government sources said Peter Kyle, the Science Secretary, had spoken to Downing Street before appearing on Sky News on Tuesday, when he made controversial remarks about Mr Farage and the notorious paedophile.
In the interview, Mr Kyle said the Reform leader was 'on the side' of child predators and extreme pornographers, after Mr Farage pledged to scrap the Online Safety Act if he becomes prime minister.
'Make no mistake about it, if people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, he would be perpetrating his crimes online, and Nigel Farage is saying that he is on their side, not the side of children,' he said.
Despite concern from some Labour figures that the attack could backfire on Sir Keir – who was Director of Public Prosecutions when the Crown Prosecution Service declined to bring charges against Savile – other Labour ministers rowed in behind Mr Kyle.
Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, repeated the allegation on Wednesday morning, telling Sky News: 'Nigel Farage is, in effect, saying that he is [on paedophiles'] side because he's saying he's wanting to repeal the Online Safety Act.
'In effect, what Nigel Farage is saying is that he's totally happy for there to be a free-for-all on the internet.
'That's not the position of the Labour Government. It's not the position of me. It's not the position of Keir Starmer or Peter Kyle, and that is the point that the Technology Secretary was rightly making yesterday.'
Mr Farage has demanded an apology for what he called a 'disgusting' smear against him, arguing that Mr Kyle had become the 'minister for political slander'.
However, the fact that No 10 was aware of Mr Kyle's comments before they were issued suggests that Sir Keir's team is willing to launch a major war with Reform on child safety.
Reform is currently eight points ahead of Labour in the polls, and has launched a summer campaign on crime that is targeted at Sir Keir's performance on keeping streets safe.
Labour has begun targeting Mr Farage personally on the doorstep, releasing leaflets designed to look like scratch cards with the slogan 'don't gamble on Farage'.
A Labour source said the Savile debate was 'a fight we're willing to have,' adding: 'Shielding kids from gruesome stuff online should be a no-brainer'.
'It is quite amusing seeing Farage talking about 'disgusting remarks',' the source said. 'He has a distinguished record of making punchy and disgusting remarks in his own right.'
Savile last became a feature of Westminster debate when Boris Johnson accused Sir Keir of failing to prosecute him in 2022.
The former Tory prime minister later said he had only intended to criticise the CPS, not Sir Keir's actions. There is no evidence that Sir Keir knew about the advice provided to police by the CPS that Savile should not be charged.
Richard Scorer, a lawyer who has represented Savile victims, said at the time that Mr Johnson's attack was a 'troubling smear' and he was 'weaponising' their suffering.
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