Reform’s attempt to exploit Henry Nowak’s death is rank opportunism

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Keir Starmer has condemned “disgraceful” attacks against police officers in Southampton during disorder prompted by the handling of Henry Nowak’s murder.

So what? A young man’s tragic death has become a political flashpoint. Bodycam footage of Nowak being arrested as he lay dying was released this week after his killer, a Sikh man called Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in jail. The case

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  raises serious questions about police conduct;

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  has been seized upon by the right; and

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  will likely feature in the upcoming Makerfield byelection.

The facts. Digwa stabbed Nowak, an 18-year-old student, five times with a ceremonial Sikh knife as he walked home from a night out. Police officers at the scene accepted Digwa’s false claims that Nowak had racially abused and assaulted him. The footage shows Nowak saying “I can’t breathe” and “I’ve been stabbed”. An officer responds, “I don’t think you have, mate”.

Person of violence. Digwa’s motive is unclear. The pair had an altercation on the street and Nowak commented, “perhaps cheekily”, if Digwa thought he was “a bad man”, possibly because he had seen his dagger, the sentencing judge said. Police found more than 20 weapons at Digwa’s home, and the prosecution described him as having “a weapons obsession”.

Response. Hampshire Police has apologised to Nowak’s family, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is examining the officers' actions to determine whether any misconduct occurred. The National Police Council is also reviewing its anti-racism commitment, which advises against “treating everyone the same or being colour blind”.

Political football. This has not stopped Reform from weighing in. On Monday Farage cited Nowak’s treatment as evidence of a “two-tiered” system “where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities”. He later doubled down by urging the public to respond with “pure cold rage”.

Condemned. Keir Starmer has accused Farage of exploiting “grievance and division” and denied accusations of “two-tiered” policing. He also said there were “serious questions” about whether ”accusations of racism” informed the police response to the stabbing. Kemi Badenoch described the murder as a “wake-up call” while condemning Farage for “whipping up anger”. Even Rupert Lowe, Farage’s far-right rival, accused him of seeking to “weaponise” the murder.

Opportunity knocks. Farage has been on the back foot since the local elections over questions about a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. But his party senses an opportunity in tapping into the public outrage over Nowak’s murder. It risks losing votes to Lowe’s Restore UK in the Makerfield byelection, where immigration is a hot-button issue.

Words with consequences. Tuesday’s disorder saw protestors throw bricks and beer cans at police as they tried to reach Digwa’s family home. Eleven police officers and a police dog were injured. Farage refused to condemn the violence in the Commons yesterday. His comments in the chamber echoed his inflammatory remarks during racist riots sparked by the killing of three young girls in Southport in 2024, when he was accused of legitimising far-right violence.

Misinformation. Elon Musk has commented several times on the murder on social media, claiming that the British government “helped murder this poor English boy.” His chatbot Grok has wrongly identified two police officers as involved in the response. One has been forced to move home while the other has gone into hiding.

Overlooked. Details about the young man at the centre of the tragedy have been obscured by Reform’s attempt to exploit his murder. Nowak’s family has described him as “the most wonderful, funny, handsome, kind, precious, smart boy”, while condemning the police response.

What’s more… They also said they “do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension”. Farage and Reform have ignored this plea.

Photograph by Finnbarr W Tuesday’s disorder saw protesters throw bricks and beer cans at police as they tried to reach Digwa’s family home. Eleven police officers and a police dog were injured. Farage refused to condemn the violence in the Commons yesterday. His comments in the chamber echoed his inflammatory remarks during racist riots sparked by the killing of three young girls in Southport in 2024, when he was accused of legitimising far-right violence.