Labour backbenchers have accused Sir Keir Starmer of not being quick enough to react to the murder of Henry Nowak.
While Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch both put out statements not long after the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, the Prime Minister has been accused of dithering by his own MPs.
The student’s killer, 23-year-old Digwa, told police attending the scene of the stabbing that he had been the victim of a racist attack, while Mr Nowak was handcuffed by police as he lay dying.
One backbench Labour MP told The Times: "There’s a sense among colleagues that the government wasn’t quite aware of how big this case was. We weren’t speedy enough to get on the front foot and we have once again fallen into the same trap that Farage and Co lay us which makes us look as though we have downplayed it."
Another added: "It’s a pattern that sums up this Government. It doesn’t seem to smell danger and then when danger hits us we are too slow to react."
However, a Government source defended its response, saying: "It’s incredibly important we respond to these events with dignity, calmness and empathy and not rush into a knee-jerk reaction."
Last night, the Prime Minister said he was "profoundly humbled" to have a private discussion with the teenager’s family in Downing Street and said Mr Nowak "deserves a legacy that goes beyond this awful tragedy".
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Scottish Tory MP calls for 'complete equality in policing'
A Scottish Conservative MP has said the party wants to see "complete equality in policing" following the murder of Henry Nowak.
Harriet Cross, the Tory MP for Gordon and Buchan, told GB News: "Kemi Badenoch has been really clear and unambiguous about this.
"We want to see complete equality across policing. We don't want people policed in different groups.
"We want people policed as individuals for the crime that they have committed or for the crime that is being committed upon them, making sure that the victims are treated completely fairly and believed, most importantly, believe because that was what was missing in this case."
David Lammy says Keir Starmer would fight Andy Burnham in Labour leadership contest
David Lammy has said that if there is a Labour leadership contest, Sir Keir Starmer would fight in it, after Andy Burnham said he would join one if elected Makerfield MP.
The Deputy Prime Minister told LBC: "There is no contest at the moment, and my view is it would be a huge distraction at this time. The Prime Minister, by the way, has been absolutely clear: if there is a contest, he’ll be in it."
Asked if he would serve in a potential Andy Burnham premiership, he said: "I’m not, I’m not even going to get into that kind of speculation.
“What I do know is that if there were to be a change of leader, of course, you serve at the will of the person who is leading the party. That’s always the case, certainly if you’re in their Cabinet.
"I’ve supported every leader of the Labour Party. They’ve had my full loyalty. Keir Starmer has got my loyalty, full loyalty, until the day he no longer wishes to serve."
Kemi Badenoch slams 'utter madness' of SNP and Labour on North Sea drilling
KemI Badenoch took aim at John Swinney and Keir Starmer
| GETTYResearch on oil and gas in the North Sea "demonstrates the utter madness" of the SNP and Labour’s opposition to drilling, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader’s comments came as a study by the University of Aberdeen revealed there are reserves of oil and gas in the area west of Shetland of 4.7 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe).
Ms Badenoch said the survey demonstrates the "utter madness" of the stance taken by Sir Keir Starmer and John Swinney to oppose drilling in the North Sea.
She said: "It defies belief that Labour and the SNP won’t drill our own oil and gas in the North Sea when independent reports have found there are billions of barrels lying untapped.
"The University of Aberdeen survey just demonstrates the utter madness of the stance taken by Keir Starmer and John Swinney.
"Domestic oil and gas are vital to the nation’s energy security, as well as being the economic lifeblood of the North East. Yet the industry is on its knees due to the windfall tax and the ban on new developments. The Conservatives would scrap both immediately."
David Lammy says Elon Musk needs to 'step back' from posting about Henry Nowak
David Lammy has said Elon Musk should “step back” from tweeting about the case of Henry Nowak and “get on with” his IPO.
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer accused the billionaire X owner of seeking to whip up division.
The Deputy Prime Minister told Sky News: "I think there’s an IPO this week in the States on Starlink. Elon Musk should get on with that. I mean, tweeting over 100 times about this tragic, horrific case.
"Anyone who’s seen the video, it’s so harrowing and appalling. I’ve got two teenage sons. My heart goes out to the Nowak family. Let us not exploit their situation. They have asked for calm, they have asked of course for us to look closely at the issues around knife crime.
"Let us respect them. Elon Musk really, I think, he should stay out of this complex but painful situation for that family."
He later added: "I urge Elon Musk to stay out of tweeting about this sensitive case."
But he said he was not minded to stop using X as a platform.
"I don’t spend time on X surfing Elon Musk tweets, so I haven’t read them, but I’m not sure any of them reached the standard that require that. But I think it is appropriate for politicians to urge Elon Musk to step back."
Keir Starmer 'will not walk away' from Andy Burnham leadership challenge
Sir Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham are seen as the main two rivals
| PAPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer "will not walk away" after Andy Burnham said he will challenge him for the Labour leadership if he wins the Makerfield by-election.
Downing Street said the process for challenging the Labour leader "has not been triggered", and that the country expects ministers to “focus on governing”.
The Greater Manchester Mayor, widely viewed as Sir Keir’s main rival, has previously promised a vote for him in Makerfield would be a vote to “change Labour” but had not explicitly said he would launch a bid until pressed on the BBC’s Question Time by-election special.
Appearing on the programme, Mr Burnham said a "fundamental change" is needed in Westminster to restore the public’s trust in politicians.
Hitting back at Mr Burnham, a Downing Street spokesman said: "With Keir Starmer’s leadership, this Labour Government is supporting people with the cost of living, cutting NHS waiting lists, restoring control of our borders and lifting half a million children out of poverty.
"The country expects us to focus on governing and to deliver change for hard-working people, not get distracted by Westminster debates.
"The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and it has not been triggered. The Prime Minister will not walk away from the mandate he was given just two years ago to build a stronger, fairer Britain."
Rejoining European Union will NOT be issue at next election, Keir Starmer's Brexit chief pledges
The next general election will not be fought over whether Britain should rejoin the European Union, Sir Keir Starmer's chief Brexit negotiator has pledged.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, said he was firmly fixed on developing what he called a "post-Brexit landscape" with the EU.
This did not involve breaching any of Labour's three red lines on Brexit in the party's 2024 election manifesto: no return to the single market, customs union or freedom of movement.
Brexit has been thrust back into the spotlight after Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham suggested they wanted to take the UK back into the bloc if either replaces Sir Keir as Prime Minister.
Home Office told control of asylum system 'all but lost' after 'losing' illegal migrants in Britain
Shabana Mahmood's department has been slated in the latest PAC report | GETTYThe Home Office has admitted it is "unable to prove it can manage asylum accommodation effectively", as a damning new report found control was "all but lost".
Parliament's spending watchdog has delivered a scathing "end-to-end snapshot" of Shabana Mahmood's asylum system, warning mistakes made by civil servants are doomed to be repeated.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: "At the time of our inquiry, control of it had been all but lost. The focus on short-term, reactive 'fixes' has left the Government chasing after pressures pushed from one part of the system to the next."
He slammed the lack of a "clear strategy uniting efforts", adding communication between departments and local authorities is "patchy at best".