Labour urged not to try to 'score points' using Jimmy Savile's name

Labour's use of Jimmy Savile's "toxic" name seemed to be an attempt to "deliberately bait" Nigel Farage and would distress survivors of child sexual abuse, a lawyer for victims of the late TV presenter has said.

- Josh Halliday

Alan Collins, the head of the abuse team at Hugh James solicitors, said it was "concerning" to see Jess Philips, the safeguarding minister, and others use Savile's name to try to "score points over political opponents".

Labour has accused Farage and Reform UK of being "on the side of predators like Savile" by opposing the Online Safety Act.

Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, was the first minister to make the comparison when he told Sky News last week: "Make no mistake about it, if people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, he'd be perpetrating his crimes online. And Nigel Farage is saying that he's on their side."