Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage of exploiting the murder of Henry Nowak to fuel division, as the case sparked heated exchanges in Parliament.
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The row follows comments by Farage, who urged the public to respond with “pure, cold rage” after police arrested the 18-year-old victim while he was dying. Officers initially detained Nowak after his attacker falsely claimed he had been the target of a racist assault.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Farage repeated his argument that the case demonstrated “two-tier policing”, claiming anti-racism guidance had encouraged officers to treat ethnic groups differently. Starmer rejected the allegation, saying the appropriate response was “serious work, not rage”.
Murder and Investigation
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced on Monday to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for killing Nowak in Southampton in December.
Digwa stabbed the teenager with a large blade that he said he carried because of his Sikh faith. He then falsely told police he had been subjected to a racist attack, leading officers to initially arrest Nowak rather than his attacker.
Body-worn camera footage released this week showed officers handcuffing the teenager as he repeatedly said he could not breathe. The incident is under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Family Urges Unity
Starmer told MPs that Nowak’s family had specifically asked for the tragedy not to be used to deepen social divisions.
He said his own response had focused on identifying lessons and ensuring justice, while accusing Farage of appealing to public anger despite the wishes of the victim’s relatives. Starmer described attempts to use the case to create “grievance and division” as unforgivable.
Outside court on Monday, Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, said the family wanted his son’s death to lead to positive change. He urged people not to use the case to promote hatred, tension or division, and said they hoped it would help make streets safer.
Political and Policing Response
Kemi Badenoch also criticised Farage, saying she was disappointed by his intervention. In the Commons, she described the case as a warning to institutions across the country and said politicians should work to unite people rather than divide them.
Ed Davey said police forces should implement any recommendations arising from the watchdog’s investigation. He added that politicians should avoid turning the teenager’s death into a political issue.
Donna Jones said Nowak’s family were distressed by violent protests that broke out in Southampton on Tuesday. She said relatives had made clear they did not support demonstrations or the unrest seen on the streets.
Meanwhile, the National Police Chiefs' Council said it would review wording in its Police Anti-Racism Commitment. The document has faced scrutiny because it states police should not necessarily treat everyone “the same” if they are seeking equal policing outcomes across ethnic groups.
Earlier, Policing Minister Sarah Jones said the wording was wrong and could create a misleading impression. However, she stressed that the document was intended as a statement of values and did not form the basis of police training or operational decisions.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 4 June 2026
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