Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, has argued Boris Johnson did not smear Keir Starmer in the Commons last week because what he said was misunderstood. 
The minister echoed Johnson and said the abuse Starmer suffered was 'unacceptable', but he argued the prime minister's original comments in parliament, linking Keir Starmer to the failure to prosecute Jimmy Savile, were 'fair and reasonable' 
UK politics: latest updates
Johnson will not apologise for Jimmy Savile remark, says minister