Keir Starmer wasn’t in the mood to mince words when asked if he “regrets” blaming far-right agitators for the unrest in England last summer. Facing a query from GB News journalist Christopher Brown, the prime minister shot back bluntly: “Responsibility for the violence lies with them who perpetrate it.”
A Fateful Inquiry
Starmer had been discussing the public inquiry into the Southport attack, a horrific event where three young girls—Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar—were tragically stabbed to death. Their killer, Axel Rudakubana, has now pleaded guilty to the murders and admitted to 13 other charges.
Why Didn’t the Government Reveal Everything?
Following the stabbings, false social media claims portrayed Rudakubana as an asylum seeker, leading to violent riots across the country. Starmer explained that government officials withheld some details about Rudakubana’s terror connections to avoid jeopardising his trial.
Was It Really the Far Right?
In his question, GB News’ Christopher Brown asked whether some rioters might have been “entitled to be concerned and upset” rather than being dismissed as far-right troublemakers. But Starmer wasn’t budging:
“I don’t think anyone can justify [the violence], and nor should they.”
Sir Keir Starmer shut down a question from GB News asking whether he ‘regrets’ blaming the far-right for the unrest in England last summer.
Posted by Spotted: News on Tuesday 21 January 2025
The prime minister emphasised that the blame lies solely with those who took part in the unrest, and he recalled seeing the emotional toll on the police and ambulance staff who had to pivot from handling a mass stabbing to controlling riots.
Rudakubana’s Sentencing
The 18-year-old murderer, who had been referred to anti-extremism authorities three times, will be sentenced on Thursday (23 January). Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has launched a public inquiry into how Rudakubana “came to be so dangerous” and why his potential terror links weren’t publicly disclosed sooner.
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