GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes has criticised Sir Keir Starmer's handling of information about the Southport attack, claiming the Prime Minister's legal background influenced his approach.
"He's a lawyer, that's what he is and that's what he puts first," Eamonn said of Starmer's decision to withhold details about the case.
The criticism comes after 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty yesterday to murdering three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.
Starmer has defended his decision to withhold information about the case, stating he had to "observe the law of the land".
GB News host Eamonn Holmes said: "He's a lawyer, that's what he is. And that's what he puts first.
"I mean, I regard my job as a journalist to be to challenge legal advice. Lawyers dictate and tell you that you can't say this, you can't say that. I always say, why not? How come?
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
"Surely there is the way around this. They have a blanket ban on everything. His job is now to speak to the general public to accommodate what people think.
"Of course, he has an argument that he can't ruin the case that's been built up and all that sort of thing, I just think he's a lawyer. He speaks as a lawyer, not as a politician."
Home and Security Editor Mark White explained: "These criminal cases are robust. I've covered them for many, many years.
"Judges always tell the jury to disregard everything heard in the media or elsewhere before. Judge it on the facts before you.
"There is little to no risk of genuinely prejudicing a trial by putting some of this information out there, but everything to be gained by being frank with the public and helping fill that vacuum.
Eamonn added: "One of those things to be gained was a lack of disruption on the streets.
"Take that terrible disruption that happened, there surely was a responsibility on his behalf towards what ensued."
The Prime Minister revealed he was "kept up to date with the facts as they were emerging", including details about the ricin and terrorist document discoveries.
He insisted the information was withheld "to protect the integrity of the system to ensure that the victims and their families get the justice they deserve".
"It was not my personal decision to withhold this information, any more than it was a journalist's personal decision not to print or write about it," Starmer explained.
It emerged that Rudakubana had been referred to Prevent, the Government's anti-terrorism scheme, three times.
One referral was made after concerns about Rudakubana's potential interest in school massacres.
Find Out More...
"He's a lawyer, that's what he is and that's what he puts first," Eamonn said of Starmer's decision to withhold details about the case.
The criticism comes after 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty yesterday to murdering three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.
Starmer has defended his decision to withhold information about the case, stating he had to "observe the law of the land".
GB News host Eamonn Holmes said: "He's a lawyer, that's what he is. And that's what he puts first.
"I mean, I regard my job as a journalist to be to challenge legal advice. Lawyers dictate and tell you that you can't say this, you can't say that. I always say, why not? How come?
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Reeves's Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton expansions branded 'desperate' as she bids to revive economy
- 'Terrorism has changed!' Keir Starmer warns that the UK faces 'new threat' of extreme violence
- Starmer defends actions after being blasted for Southport 'cover-up' as he admits knowing details
"Surely there is the way around this. They have a blanket ban on everything. His job is now to speak to the general public to accommodate what people think.
"Of course, he has an argument that he can't ruin the case that's been built up and all that sort of thing, I just think he's a lawyer. He speaks as a lawyer, not as a politician."
Home and Security Editor Mark White explained: "These criminal cases are robust. I've covered them for many, many years.
"Judges always tell the jury to disregard everything heard in the media or elsewhere before. Judge it on the facts before you.
"There is little to no risk of genuinely prejudicing a trial by putting some of this information out there, but everything to be gained by being frank with the public and helping fill that vacuum.
Eamonn added: "One of those things to be gained was a lack of disruption on the streets.
"Take that terrible disruption that happened, there surely was a responsibility on his behalf towards what ensued."
The Prime Minister revealed he was "kept up to date with the facts as they were emerging", including details about the ricin and terrorist document discoveries.
He insisted the information was withheld "to protect the integrity of the system to ensure that the victims and their families get the justice they deserve".
"It was not my personal decision to withhold this information, any more than it was a journalist's personal decision not to print or write about it," Starmer explained.
It emerged that Rudakubana had been referred to Prevent, the Government's anti-terrorism scheme, three times.
One referral was made after concerns about Rudakubana's potential interest in school massacres.
Find Out More...