Nigel Farage has faced widespread condemnation from all main party leaders for allegedly exploiting the murder of teenager Henry Nowak for political gain. Sir Keir Starmer described the Reform UK leader's actions as 'unforgivable', accusing him of only pretending to sympathise with the Nowak family, who had explicitly asked for their son's death not to be used to create division.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Farage was jeered and heckled as he refused to condemn violent scenes at a protest organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson over police handling of the case. Instead, he appeared to encourage further demonstrations, stating the unrest in Southampton was 'just the beginning'. He claimed the country was living under 'two-tier policing' and that instructions to officers were to treat ethnic groups differently.
Sir Keir responded by thanking Kemi Badenoch for her measured approach, while the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accused Mr Farage of using the tragedy as a 'political football'. Hampshire's Chief Constable Alexis Boon warned that divisive rhetoric was leading to threats against police officers and their families, calling it 'totally unacceptable'.
The controversy comes ahead of the Makerfield by-election on 18 June, where Reform UK hopes the issue will damage Labour's candidate Andy Burnham. Lord Hayward noted that Labour MPs are 'right to be nervous' as the by-election is expected to be very tight, with the Nowak case likely to have an impact.
