Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned rioting in Southampton on Tuesday night, calling it “a time for serious work, not rage” and launching a blistering attack on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for urging the public to respond with “pure, cold rage” after the murder of Henry Nowak.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer said Nowak’s family had “shown extraordinary dignity after their son’s life was stolen in appalling circumstances”. He added that there were “serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking”, and backed the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s investigation into the case.
Eleven police officers and one police dog were injured after crowds including far-right agitators attacked officers in what was billed as a protest about Nowak’s death and his treatment by police. Starmer said: “No matter the pain we feel, there is no justification for more violence and disorder. … This is a time for serious work, not rage.”
In a direct response to Farage, who had called for “pure, cold rage” and claimed “two-tier policing”, Starmer said: “A grieving family have asked us not to respond in the way that the leader of Reform has responded. … 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.”
The policing minister, Sarah Jones, also condemned the violence and said anti-discrimination guidance that advises police to treat ethnic minorities differently “gives the wrong impression”. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has announced a review of the guidance, which some have blamed for the actions of officers who arrested Nowak.
