In an emotional exchange at PMQs, Keir Starmer hit out at Nigel Farage – who he accused of exploiting the murder of Henry Nowak despite his family’s pleas for calm
Keir Starmer has said Nigel Farage has shown “exactly who he is” by “exploiting” Henry Nowak’s murder in spite of his family’s wishes.
The PM accused the Reform UK leader of pretending to respect the teenager’s family, who earlier this week called for calm. Mr Starmer said Mr Farage’s actions were “unforgivable”.
The Reform chief has been heavily criticised after calling for “pure cold rage” in the wake of the horrifying tragedy. Last night there were violent clashes in Southampton, where Henry was murdered in December. Mr Starmer said it is a time for serious work to learn lessons and get justice for Henry, not rage.
Responding to the Reform leader at PMQs, Mr Starmer said: “I’m really shocked that he (Mr Farage) pretends to have respect for Henry’s family. The grieving family have asked us not to respond in the way that the leader of Reform has responded. They’ve asked us not to. They have lost their son in the most appalling circumstances.
“They make a simple plea of us as human beings to please not exploit that. That is their plea to us, and we all need to reflect on the words of Henry’s father. My response and the response of others, to be fair, has to be focused on the lessons to be learned so we can deliver justice. His (Mr Farage’s) response has been to appeal for rage.”
The PM went on: “That’s his response to a father who’s lost his son and asked for that not to happen. Exploiting this tragedy to create grievance and division would be wrong in any circumstances.
“But to do it when the family are expressly saying please don’t is unforgivable. It shows exactly who he is.”
Horrifying bodycam footage released on Monday showed Henry, 18, in handcuffs as he lay dying. He was stabbed by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa who falsely claimed he had been the victim of a racial assault.
He was shown repeatedly telling officers that he had been stabbed and that he could not breathe. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the police response to the tragedy.
On Monday Henry’s dad Mark Nowak told reporters outside court: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to make our streets safer for everyone.”
Following Digwa’s sentencing on Monday – which saw the killer jailed for a minimum of 21 years – Mr Farage released a video stating: “We’re living in a two-tier culture in this country where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities.” And he said: “We need a change in culture. White lives matter too.”
He went on to post on X: “We should respond to this with pure cold rage.” Raising the tragedy in the Commons, Mr Farage said: “It is now clear to growing millions in this country that we’re living under two tier policing.
“The instructions that are given to police officers from police bosses are clear and written down in ink. It says you must treat different ethnic groups in different ways.”
He went on: “If the public lose trust in being treated fairly by the police, can he take some action to end this divisive practice of two tier policing and make sure that all British citizens are treated the same?”
Police were pelted with chairs, cans, rocks and flares last night by some of the hundreds who attended a protest in Southampton. Two people were arrested and 11 officers and a police dog were injured, police said.
Opening PMQs, Mr Starmer told the Commons: “Henry Nowak’s family have shown extraordinary dignity after their son’s life was stolen in appalling circumstances. He was clearly a kind and thoughtful and much-loved young man.
“There are serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking, and we are supporting the IOPC to get to the bottom of what happened. But no matter the pain we feel, there is no justification for more violence and disorder. The attacks directed towards police officers in Southampton last night were disgraceful and completely unacceptable.
“This is a time for serious work, not rage. Let me be clear. We will ensure that anyone found engaging in disorder meets the full force of the law, as we have done before.”
Earlier Policing Minister Sarah Jones said Mr Farage’s comments were “irresponsible” and “unhelpful” after violent clashes between protesters and police in Southampton on Monday night. Ms Jones said she understood the anger the case had caused, but appealed for calm after two people were arrested.
Asked about Mr Farage’s comments, Ms Jones said: “I just think they’re so unhelpful. I think, of course, when you look at that footage and – I’ve got boys and myself and when I look at that footage, it’s awful and you feel the kind of a visceral response and anger that is there and that is there is right to feel.
“But to try and take those emotional responses that we’re all having and stir it into a call to action that is going to divide us even further is so irresponsible. and I would just say to all politicians, words matter. We need to be careful what we say. We need to let the IOPC do their job, and we need to respect what the family has asked us to do.”
On Monday evening, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also hit out at people “hijacking” the stabbing of 18-year-old Nowak. She pointed to his family’s “powerful call” not to let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension. She added: “There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder.”