Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the rioting in Southampton on Tuesday night, calling it 'a time for serious work, not rage' in a direct attack on Nigel Farage's response to the murder of Henry Nowak. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer described Farage's call for 'pure, cold rage' as 'unforgivable', noting that Nowak's family had explicitly asked for their son's death not to be exploited for division.
Starmer praised the dignity of the Nowak family and said there were serious questions to answer about how accusations of racism influenced police thinking. He confirmed the government would support the Independent Office for Police Conduct in its investigation into the conduct of officers who handcuffed Nowak after he was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, who had falsely claimed he was racially abused.
Eleven police officers and one police dog were injured during the disorder, which involved far-right agitators. Starmer said the attacks on police were 'disgraceful and completely unacceptable', and vowed that anyone found engaging in disorder would face the full force of the law.
Farage, the Reform UK leader, had earlier called for a response of 'pure, cold rage' and claimed there was 'two-tier policing' that prioritised minority ethnic Britons over white citizens. Starmer countered that exploiting the tragedy for grievance and division, especially against the family's wishes, 'shows exactly who he is'.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones also condemned the violence and said anti-discrimination guidance that suggested treating black and white suspects differently 'gives the wrong impression'. The National Police Chiefs' Council has announced a review of the guidance, which some blame for the officers' actions. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy criticised the criminal justice system for being 'corrupted by political correctness and leftwing ideology'.
