Downing Street Condemns US Vice-President Vance for Comments on Henry Nowak Murder
Downing Street has publicly condemned what it described as attempts to "interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division", following comments from US Vice-President JD Vance regarding the murder of Henry Nowak. Vance had blamed the 18-year-old British student's death in Southampton on a "mass invasion of migrants" and called for "righteous anger" in response.
A spokesperson for Downing Street highlighted the Nowak family's explicit wish for Henry's death not to be exploited for further division. The statement emphasised that "Our politics should bring people together even in the most terrible of circumstances. That is who we are as a country."
Police Conduct Under Scrutiny
Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed last year by Vickrum Digwa, who has since been jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years. Digwa, confirmed to be British-born by the Crown Prosecution Service, used a 21cm blade in the attack. Violent protests erupted in Southampton on Tuesday following the release of bodycam footage showing police handcuffing a dying Nowak after Digwa falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist attack.
Vance's online post asserted that Nowak died "the same way a civilisation dies: abandoned and handcuffed by authorities who neither trusted nor cared for him." He further claimed Nowak would be alive "if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating officers' behaviour, and an inquest jury will examine whether "any act or omission by police officers" or delayed treatment contributed to Nowak's death.
UK Politicians Reject External Interference
Josh MacAlister, the Minister for Children and Families, criticised Vance, stating, "There are people who are trying to import that kind of toxic politics here into the UK and I don't want to have anything to do with it." He added, "I don't think we need advice from American politicians... [on] how to have effective policing here in the UK."
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for an "independent rapid review" into the circumstances of Nowak's death, writing to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that "The questions raised about what followed are of profound public importance."
Earlier in the week, Sir Keir Starmer also accused tech billionaire Elon Musk of attempting to "whip up division" over the murder, after Musk posted on X criticising police treatment of Nowak and media coverage.
Republicans Overseas spokesperson Jennifer Ewing defended Vance's comments, suggesting they came "from a place of care and concern" for the UK populace. However, Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, urged resistance against "attempts like this to politicise Henry Nowak's death and divide our country - whether they come from MAGA politicians like Vance or their cronies here in the UK." Labour peer Thangam Debbonaire labelled Vance's remarks "unhelpful," arguing they stoked division explicitly against the Nowak family's wishes.
