Keir Starmer has rejected the claim that the UK is subject to “two-tier policing” after the Trump administration suggested it was evident in the response to the murder of teenager Henry Nowak. The prime minister said the UK must not shy away from asking difficult questions of the police after officers handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying from stab wounds, following his killer Vickrum Digwa’s false accusation of racist abuse. Digwa was convicted of murder and jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years.
Starmer said the police’s response is under review but rejected the US state department’s characterisation of UK policing, telling LBC: “It is really important that we are very, very clear, policing without fear or favour, whatever anybody else says, and wherever they’re saying it from, whichever country in the world.” On Thursday night, the US state department, led by Marco Rubio, posted on X: “Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilisational decline. They must be rejected across the West. The United States sends our condolences to the family of Henry Nowak and the people of the United Kingdom at this troubling time.”
The Liberal Democrats have called for the US ambassador to be summoned over what they called “flagrant foreign interference”. Party leader Ed Davey said the Trump administration is “attacking our democracy, not in secret, but openly on social media”. No 10 said the relationship with the US remains “incredibly strong” despite the difference of view on policing and declined to comment on whether the US would be rebuked diplomatically.
The 18-year-old student’s murder has been cited by some as evidence of two-tier policing, with Elon Musk and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage claiming bias against white people. Both have been accused of exploiting the death. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told Sky News he welcomed the US condolences but did not recognise “this caricature of Britain having a two-tier criminal justice system”. Starmer accused Musk of “interfering in our politics” and attempting to create division.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, is examining the officers’ behaviour. Starmer met Nowak’s family at Downing Street on Thursday, saying he was “profoundly humbled” and promised to take action. He stressed he would not give up his job if Andy Burnham re-enters parliament and challenged for leadership. Starmer also set out his defence investment plan, promising more jobs but not ruling out cuts to pay for an extra £15bn in spending. He told LBC: “I’ve always said we’re going to have to spend more on defence… It is about a question of priorities, and this is the top priority.”
