PM Accuses Farage of Exploiting Nowak Case
Sir Keir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage of exploiting the death of Henry Nowak to foster "grievance and division" amid the political fallout following the teenager's murder, which triggered heated exchanges in the Commons.
This follows comments by the Reform UK leader, who suggested the British public's reaction to police actions should be one of "pure, cold rage". The police had arrested the 18-year-old Nowak as he lay dying after his killer falsely accused him of racism.
During Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), Farage reiterated his claim that the incident was a consequence of "two-tier policing," referencing anti-racism guidance issued by police leadership.
The prime minister rejected this assertion, emphasizing that politicians must address the case with "serious work, not rage."
Details of the Murder and Investigation
Vickrum Digwa, aged 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years on Monday for the murder of Henry Nowak in Southampton last December.
Digwa stabbed Nowak with a large blade, which he claimed to carry as part of his Sikh faith. He then falsely told police that he had been the victim of a racist attack, leading officers to initially arrest Nowak, who was white, rather than Digwa.
Bodycam footage released this week revealed Nowak repeatedly informing officers that he had been stabbed while he lay dying in handcuffs.
The incident is under investigation by the policing watchdog and has sparked significant political reactions. On Monday, Farage posted a video clip asserting that the police response demonstrated "two-tier Britain" and called for an end to "anti-white prejudice." He stated:
"Henry's family have responded to this in just the most extraordinarily dignified way. But I suggest the rest of us respond to this with pure, cold rage."
Farage's Claims and Parliamentary Debate
In the Commons, Farage maintained that the case exemplified "two-tier policing," arguing that anti-racism guidelines issued to officers had led to differential treatment of ethnic groups by police forces.
He warned that violent protests related to the case could escalate if public trust in fair treatment by officers erodes. During his speech, he was repeatedly heckled by other MPs who urged him to condemn clashes with police that occurred on Monday evening.
In response, the prime minister expressed being "shocked" by Farage's reaction and accused him of ignoring the Nowak family's requests that the tragedy not be used to sow societal division.
'Grievance and Division'
Starmer told MPs:
"A grieving family have asked us not to respond in the way that the leader of Reform has responded."
"My response - and the response of others, to be fair - has focused on the lessons to be learned, so we can deliver justice."
"His response has been to appeal for rage. Rage – 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."
Review of Police Anti-Racism Guidance
Meanwhile, the organisation representing police chiefs in England and Wales announced it would review the language used in a document titled the Police Anti-Racism Commitment, published last year following a policing action plan in 2022.
The document includes a statement that police should not aim to treat everyone "the same" but should strive to achieve "equality of policing outcomes" across different ethnic groups. This wording has come under scrutiny following Nowak's murder.
Earlier, Policing Minister Sarah Jones commented that she believed the language in the document was "wrong" and "gives the wrong impression."
However, she emphasized that it is a "values document" and does not form the basis of any police training or operational activity.
