Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has revealed that he personally challenged US Vice-President JD Vance over comments linking the murder of British teenager Henry Nowak to migration, telling him his assessment of the case was "wrong". Get today's headlines by email Speaking to the BBC, Lammy said he spoke with Vance on Saturday after the vice-president suggested that Nowak's death reflected the consequences of what he described as a "mass invasion of migrants" into Europe. Lammy rejected that argument, saying the killing had "nothing to do with mass migration". He said the conversation with Vance was cordial but direct, describing it as a robust exchange between colleagues who remain on good terms despite political disagreements. The dispute follows renewed attention on the murder of Nowak, an 18-year-old student who was fatally stabbed in Southampton in December last year. Murder case sparks political debateVickrum Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murdering Nowak. Digwa, who was born in the UK and is British, falsely claimed he had been subjected to racial abuse and had acted in self-defence. He told the court he carried the blade for religious reasons connected to his Sikh faith. Body-worn camera footage released during the case showed police handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying after Digwa incorrectly told officers that he had been the victim of a racist attack. The case triggered widespread debate over policing and knife crime, while violent protests later broke out in Southampton. In a post on X on Friday, Vance described the killing as both tragic and infuriating. He argued that Nowak's death illustrated a broader decline in Western civilisation and claimed the teenager would still be alive if European leaders had resisted migration policies. Lammy cites family's call for calmLammy said he reminded Vance that Nowak's family had urged restraint following the case. After Digwa's sentencing, Henry Nowak's father, Mark, appealed for calm and said he did not want his son's death to be used to deepen divisions or create further tensions within communities. The deputy prime minister said he disagreed with what he called Vance's portrayal of Western society and stressed that the two men were able to discuss their differences openly. Lammy and Vance have developed a friendship over several years, beginning when Lammy was serving as an opposition MP and Vance had recently entered the US Senate. The two have met regularly since then, and last year Vance and his family stayed at Chevening, Lammy's official residence in Kent, during a visit to Britain. Police actions and guidance under reviewThe controversy has also renewed scrutiny of police handling of the case. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hampshire Police's response, while the force's chief has publicly apologised for the decision to arrest and handcuff Nowak. Attention has also focused on an anti-racism document produced by the National Police Chiefs' Council. The guidance states that racial equality does not necessarily mean treating everyone identically or adopting a colour-blind approach. The council announced this week that it would review the wording of the document following criticism. Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf argued there was a connection between police guidance and the events surrounding the case. While saying his party respected the family's wish to avoid division, Yusuf maintained that political debate on the issue should continue. Asked about institutional racism in policing, Lammy said everyone was equal before the law. He acknowledged that ethnic minorities remain disproportionately represented at several stages of the criminal justice system but argued that policing had moved beyond the era of institutional racism identified in the past. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 8 June 2026
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