The Huffington Post
David Lammy and JD Vance fish in a lake in the grounds of Chevening House in Kent last year. David Lammy told JD Vance he was “wrong” to blame immigration for Henry Nowak’s murder . Eighteen-year-old Henry was handcuffed and arrested by police as he lay dying after being wrongly accused of racism by his killer, Vickram Digwa. Digwa, who is Sikh, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court on Monday. The case has sparked a furious political row, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage being condemned by Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch for claiming it is proof of “two-tier policing” in the UK. In a post on X on Friday, the US vice-president said: “Henry Nowak died the same way a civilisation dies: abandoned, handcuffed by authorities who neither trusted nor cared for him, and accused of hate crimes he did not commit. “His murder is as tragic as it is enraging. He should still be alive today, and he would be if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it. “Henry was far from the first to so needlessly lose his life, and I fear he won’t be the last. Each time a life like his is lost, the proper response—the only response—is righteous anger.” Appearing on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg on BBC1, Lammy – who is friends with Vance – said: “I spoke to him yesterday and I told him he was wrong. This has got nothing to do with mass migration. “One, let’s be clear that since the early 2000s and post-Brexit, immigration has come down and murder has come down too in our country. “And two, the you man who perpetrated this crime was a Brit, born and raised in this country. Nothing to do with mass migration. “We had an agreeable conversation, but we disagreed. We’ve disagreed before on his perspective on western civilisation. I don’t recognise that perspective, and actually western civilisation has always been open to the world.” I don’t agree with his caricature, he knows that, and we can have that debate and discussion.” Asked if he thought Vance was being racist, Lammy said: “I reminded him that the family have called for calm. They don’t want division used on the back of Henry’s death. “And I reminded him also of the online space and how toxic that can become. We had a robust conversation, a respectful conversation. We remain colleagues and friends, we’re able to do that, and he has strong-held views.” Vance’s comments echoed those of Farage, who called for “pure, cold anger” in response to Henry’s death. Hours later, police were pelted with missiles by protesters after violence erupted outside Southampton Police Station. No.10 have also hit back at the vice-president, with a Downing Street spokesperson saying: “In recent days we have seen people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets. “The Nowak family are grieving after Henry’s horrific murder. They have said they do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We should be respecting their wishes. “Our politics should bring people together even in the most terrible of circumstances. That is who we are as a country.” Subscribe to Commons People , the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster. Related... No.10 Accuses JD Vance Of 'Interfering In Our Democracy' In War Of Words Over Henry Nowak Murder JD Vance Blames 'Mass Invasion Of Migrants' For Henry Nowak's Murder 'Shove Your Division': Trump Government Sparks Angry Backlash By Wading Into Henry Nowak Row
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