Downing Street has rejected the US state department's suggestion of 'two-tiered policing' in the UK, while insisting Britain's relationship with the US remains 'incredibly strong'. In a statement, the prime minister's spokesperson referred to comments made by David Lammy this morning during a media round. The spokesperson said: 'We do reject any suggestion of two-tier policing in the United Kingdom. The deputy prime minister said mistakes can be made in any public service, it is right there is now an investigation going on.'
When asked how Keir Starmer would characterise the UK-US special relationship, the spokesperson said: 'As ever, it is incredibly strong. We work with them on a number of fronts right across our systems and this remains.' Ministers are 'in regular touch' with their US counterparts, they added.
A group of Sikh MPs have released a statement condemning the 'brutal' murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak and said the killing 'was not about Sikhism'. The 11 MPs said the 'horrific and senseless' crime underscores broader concerns about knife crime, but also highlighted that the weapon used was not a kirpan – the small ceremonial dagger commonly carried by Sikh men.
Separately, the EU has said Keir Starmer's upcoming summit 'resetting' the UK-Europe relationship may still happen in July, amid growing fears it could be postponed to the autumn as talks over youth mobility remain deadlocked. 'The summit is supposed to be mid-July but at the moment it could be put back to after the summer,' said one EU diplomat.
David Lammy came out in support of the prime minister, saying Keir Starmer would fight in a leadership contest after Andy Burnham said he would join one if elected an MP. 'There is no contest at the moment, and my view is it would be a huge distraction at this time,' the deputy prime minister told LBC this morning.
