Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has been accused of deepening societal divisions following his response to the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Nowak was fatally stabbed on 3 December 2025 in what prosecutors described as a 'brutal and unprovoked attack'. He was subsequently handcuffed by police while dying, with body-worn camera footage showing officers initially disbelieving his pleas of being stabbed.
Murder and Police Response
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison for Nowak's murder, which involved a 21cm ceremonial knife. The case has sparked widespread outrage, particularly over the actions of the attending officers. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating their conduct, and the officers are being treated as witnesses.
Farage's Controversial Remarks
In a video statement, Farage condemned the police's treatment of Nowak as indicative of a 'two-tier culture' in Britain. He urged a response of 'pure cold rage' and called for an end to 'anti-white prejudice'. These comments have drawn sharp criticism from political opponents.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Farage of 'deepening divisions' and 'pouring fuel on the fire'. She asserted that police should treat everyone equally regardless of race and opposed 'reverse racism' training, which she described as 'nonsense that should be scrapped'.
Family's Plea
Henry Nowak's father has urged the Government 'to treat knife crime as a national emergency'. The IOPC has stated it will meet with the Nowak family as part of its investigation. The case continues to fuel debate over policing, race, and knife crime in the UK.
