British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has criticized Elon Musk, the CEO of X, for allegedly attempting to incite division within the UK amid outrage regarding the police’s handling of the murder of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student. Nowak was fatally stabbed by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa in Southampton last December, an incident that has sparked accusations from activists and politicians about systemic bias against white individuals within the justice system.
Reports indicate that as Nowak lay dying from his injuries, he was placed in handcuffs by law enforcement. Digwa, who has been convicted of the murder, falsely claimed that Nowak had racially insulted him during the altercation over a mobile phone. This narrative has been seized upon by far-right advocates, who assert that the police treat white victims and ethnic minorities differently—a claim that both Starmer’s Labour government and police officials strongly refute.
Elon Musk has made several posts regarding the police’s response to this incident, including a controversial remark questioning whether official police policies are biased against white individuals. He has also offered to finance a private prosecution against the police concerning their actions during the investigation and has publicly criticized Hampshire Police.
In response, Starmer expressed his disapproval of Musk’s involvement, stating, “We need to also assert who we are as a country, because Musk has been interfering in our politics in the last few days, trying to whip up division. That is not who we are in Britain.” He emphasized that the British public is generally reasonable and tolerant, urging that the tragic circumstances surrounding Nowak’s death should not be exploited to foster further hatred or division, echoing sentiments from Nowak’s father.
Digwa was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison for his actions, which involved using a ceremonial knife during the fatal attack. Following a protest in Southampton that drew far-right extremists, Starmer condemned the violence that erupted, where demonstrators clashed with police, resulting in charges against individuals for assault and violent disorder.
The Prime Minister labeled remarks by far-right political figure Nigel Farage, who called for a response of “pure cold rage” to Nowak’s murder, as “unforgivable.” Farage has defended his comments amid accusations of inflaming racial tensions.
Starmer also described the bodycam footage from the incident as “harrowing,” stating that there are significant questions regarding the police response that need to be addressed. An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently underway, with findings expected in the next three months.
This is not the first time Starmer and Musk have clashed. Musk frequently shares critiques of the UK government on social media, prompting Starmer to respond to the misinformation being circulated.
In another development, British Labour MP Jess Asato announced her intention to sue Musk’s xAI, alleging that the Grok AI platform was responsible for generating fake sexualized images of her. Asato argues that the technology, which has faced scrutiny in various countries for producing non-consensual explicit content, was designed intentionally to enable such misuse, and she is seeking accountability for its creators. xAI has not yet commented on the legal action.
