UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed his disapproval of comments made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who attributed the tragic murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak to mass migration. Starmer emphasized the importance of respecting the wishes of Nowak’s family, who have asked for their son’s death not to be used to incite division.

Incident Overview

Henry Nowak, a young finance student, was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old man, in December 2025. The case gained national attention after it was revealed that Nowak was handcuffed by police as he lay dying, following Digwa’s false claim of being a victim of a racist attack. Digwa has since been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Political Reactions

Vice President Vance’s comments on social media suggested that the failure to control mass migration was responsible for Nowak’s death. He criticized European leaders for what he described as a failure to stand against migrant influxes. In response, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Starmer warned against external interference in UK democracy and the potential for such statements to stir division.

Family’s Wishes and Government Response

The Nowak family has publicly requested that their son’s murder not be used to foster further societal tensions. The UK government, through Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, has acknowledged ongoing investigations into the incident and rejected claims of biased policing, stating that mistakes can occur in any public service but do not reflect systemic issues.

International and Domestic Implications

The U.S. Department of State extended condolences to the Nowak family, while also touching on concerns of biased policing, a point echoed by some right-wing commentators. The UK government has firmly denied these allegations, emphasizing the integrity of their law enforcement practices.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.