Margaret Thatcher’s former aide has hit out at the prime minister after he took the decision to remove a Margaret Thatcher portrait from 10 Downing Street.
Sir Keir Starmer admitted to taking down the picture of the Iron Lady as it left him feeling “unsettled”.
Speaking on GB News, Nile Gardiner branded the decision “disgraceful” as he took aim at the Labour leader.
“What a disgraceful decision by Keir Starmer”, he said.
Nile Gardiner has raged at Keir Starmer's decision
GB NEWS / PA
“It demonstrates what a petty-minded individual he is. This was a portrait commissioned by Gordon Brown, who welcomed Thatcher to Downing Street.
“And now we have Keir Starmer, a far-left socialist, banishing this portrait from Downing Street. What an absolute disgrace.
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“It demonstrates how low this Labour Government is stooping. I think he is the most disastrous prime minister of the modern era.
“This is yet another appalling decision by the new PM who was backed by only a third of the British public.
“Now he is taking on the memory of Margaret Thatcher, a big mistake in every respect.”
It was then put to Gardiner that Starmer has only been in power for a short amount of time, and as he now resides in Downing Street, he has the right to do what he wants with the property.
Nile Gardiner joined Ben Leo on GB News
GB NEWS
In response, the director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom said: “He of course can do what he likes.
“But this demonstrates a real lack of judgment. It demonstrates an arrogance and a complete lack of respect for a truly great prime minister.
“Keir Starmer behaves in an incredibly arrogant fashion. I am concerned about him on so many fronts including his woke, authoritarian instincts and his complete lack of seriousness on dealing with the migrant crisis.
“Margaret Thatcher would be horrified about what is happening in this country under Labour. This decision shows everything we need to know about his lack of class, character and aura.”
A portrait of Thatcher has been removed from Downing Street
PALabour minister Jacqui Smith was quick to defend Starmer’s decision when she appeared on GB News earlier today.
When asked by host Stephen Dixon if she believes the decision is "petty", Smith fumed: "Look, Keir Starmer can't win, can he?
"A few months ago he was being criticised for talking about Margaret Thatcher's legacy and the elements of her leadership that he respected, and now he's being criticised for asking for a few pictures to be moved around."
Smith added: "Just to be clear, there are portraits of Margaret Thatcher as there are of all previous Prime Ministers in Number Ten. And that, of course, is absolutely right."