Some departures matter more than others. You might say the exit of a head of a policy unit unknown outside Westminster is small on the resignation Richter scale. But what matters about resignations is the scale of the injury they cause to the one left behind. Today, Boris Johnson is reeling from the exit of Munira Mirza, who has quit over his refusal to apologise for a claim that Sir Keir Starmer stymied attempts to prosecute Jimmy Savile.
I have known Mirza since she was the quiet but forceful presence shaping Johnson’s two terms as mayor. In a world of bluff men in the Boris machine, she stood out — both because of her background, with parents from Pakistan, and her northern roots. So softly spoken that allies dubbed her the “Boris whisperer”, her commitment to extending arts and education opportunities was coupled with a scepticism about liberal sacred cows. This combination suited Johnson’s desire to forge a politics which would boost inclusivity, while being firmly rooted on the Right.
