Nigel Farage has launched a scathing attack on Starmer and the government in the wake of Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana’s guilty plea. The Reform leader accused Starmer of one of the “worst cover-ups” with the handling of the case being “abominable” from “day one”. He goes on to say the government withholding information sparked the summer riots as online speculation ran rife. He explained how he was silenced:
“I was pretty certain from what I had been told very early on that this was a terrorist-related attack. I wanted to ask questions in Parliament about what the authorities knew about this man, but my rights of parliamentary privilege were taken away, and I was not allowed to say anything, which is extraordinary.”
Kemi also took to X to say: “we will need a complete account of who in government knew what and when. The public deserves the truth.” Meanwhile, it’s since been revealed that Rudakubana was referred to the counter-extremism programme Prevent not once, but three times. These referrals included incidents involving his viewing of materials on Libya, past terrorist attacks such as the 2017 London incidents, and potential interest in a school massacre targeting children. Despite this, he was repeatedly deemed not to pose a terrorism risk…
UPDATE I: Starmer says:
“Our thoughts are with the families of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar – and the families of everyone affected – who will be saved the ordeal of a protracted trial. The news that the vile and sick Southport killer will be convicted is welcome. It is also a moment of trauma for the nation and there are grave questions to answer as to how the state failed in its ultimate duty to protect these young girls. Britain will rightly demand answers. And we will leave no stone unturned in that pursuit. At the centre of this horrific event, there is still a family and community grief that is raw; a pain that not even justice can ever truly heal. Although no words today can ever truly convey the depths of that pain, I want the families to know that our thoughts are with them and everyone in Southport affected by this barbaric crime. The whole nation grieves with them.”
UPDATE II: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced a public inquiry into Southport killer Axel Rudakubana. She says ministers:
“need more independent answers on both Prevent and all the other agencies that came into contact with this extremely violent teenager as well as answers on how he came to be so dangerous, including through a public inquiry that can get to the truth about what happened and what needs to change”.
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”