Watch: Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage clash over Henry Novak murder

There was violent unrest in Southampton last night amid an outcry about the policing response to the murder that took place in December 2025.

The student’s killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, told police attending the scene of the stabbing that he had been the victim of a racist attack, while Mr Nowak was handcuffed by police as he lay dying.

Speaking in Prime Minister’s Questions today, Sir Keir highlighted the words of Mr Nowak’s father, who said: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred, or tension.”

Sir Keir said: “They’re the words of a grieving father who’s lost his son.

“I think those words have resonated with people across the country. We must not allow this tragedy to be hijacked by anyone who seeks to divide us.”

Mr Farage argued that the UK has “two-tier policing” and that officers are told to treat different ethnic groups differently.

He said: “Following the horrendous circumstances of Henry Nowak’s death, can I urge the Prime Minister to consider this: it is now clear to growing millions in this country that we are living under two-tier policing.

“The instructions that are given to police officers from police bosses are clear and written down in ink. It says you must treat different ethnic groups in different ways.

“Apart from the upset and the anger at the circumstances of his death, the anger that you saw spilling out in Southampton last night, which is in danger of getting considerably worse…

“If the public lose trust in being treated fairly by the police, can he (Sir Keir) take some action, end this divisive practice of two-tier policing, and make sure that all British citizens are treated the same?”

As he was speaking, Mr Farage was heckled by a number of MPs telling him to condemn the violence in Southampton.

Sir Keir replied: “I don’t believe there’s two-tier policing in this country. I’m really shocked that he pretends to have respect for Henry’s family and then acts in this way.

“The grieving family have asked us not to respond in the way that the leader of Reform has responded. They’ve asked us not to. They have lost their son in the most appalling circumstance. They make a simple plea of us as human beings to please not exploit that. That is their plea to us.

“We all need to reflect on those words of Henry’s father. My response, and the response of others to be fair, has been focused on the lessons to be learned, so we can deliver justice.

“His (Mr Farage’s) response has been to appeal for rage, rage. That’s his response to a father who has lost his son and asked for that not to happen.

“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 National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced it would review anti-racism guidance – which advises police to treat ethnic minorities differently to get them better outcomes – that some have blamed for the actions of the officers who arrested Mr Nowak.

In body-worn camera footage from the incident, a handcuffed Mr Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying: “I’ve been stabbed”, to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.”

Sir Keir said he “felt sick” when he watched the bodycam footage and said that “serious questions need to be addressed, not least this question about how accusations of racism informed decision-making”.

He told MPs: “I have watched the bodycam footage, as others would have done. I found it really hard. It was harrowing.

“And, as a dad of a 17-year-old boy, I felt sick. I can only imagine how devastated his family are. It is extremely moving.

“Henry’s life has been stolen. His family have responded with incredible and immense dignity and bravery.

“Now, there clearly are lessons that need to be learned, serious questions that need to be addressed, not least this question about how accusations of racism informed decision-making in such cases.”

The violence in Southampton comes less than two years after riots rippled across the UK in the summer of 2024, after Axel Rudakubana killed three girls at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport.

Some of the most shocking scenes were at a Holiday Inn, in Manvers, near Rotherham, where hooligans started setting the hotel on fire, which was housing asylum seekers.

In the investigation that followed, at least 86 people were charged and over 150 years’ worth of jail sentences handed down.

The Yorkshire Post has contacted the region’s police forces, which dealt with unrest in 2024, to ask about their preparations after the violence in Southampton.

South Yorkshire Police said it was in “continuous engagement with our communities through neighbourhood policing teams, independent advisory groups, and local networks”.

It added: “We closely monitor community tensions across the force area and carry out regular reviews to inform how we can best serve residents.

“People are free to express their views, and we know that the vast majority will do so in a peaceful and respectful manner.

“If anyone does choose to engage in crime and disorder, we will respond proportionately and appropriately to uphold the law and protect our communities.”