Summary
- LONDON: Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has directly challenged US Vice-President JD Vance, telling him he was “wrong” to blame the murder of the British student on immigration.
- Vance claimed Nowak’s death was a result of a “mass invasion of migrants” and accused European elites of a “politics of self-hatred.” In a robust phone call on Saturday, Lammy informed the US Vice-President that the killing had absolutely nothing to do with migration.
- Lammy also reminded Vance that Nowak’s family had expressly pleaded for his tragic death not to be used by political figures to fuel community divisions and hatred.
LONDON: Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has directly challenged US Vice-President JD Vance, telling him he was “wrong” to blame the murder of the British student on immigration.
The row erupted after Vance posted on social media regarding the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was fatally stabbed in Southampton last year by Vickrum Digwa. Vance claimed Nowak’s death was a result of a “mass invasion of migrants” and accused European elites of a “politics of self-hatred.”
In a robust phone call on Saturday, Lammy informed the US Vice-President that the killing had absolutely nothing to do with migration. Digwa, who was jailed for life for the murder, is a British citizen born and raised in the United Kingdom.
The case has provoked fierce public scrutiny in Britain because police bodycam footage showed officers handcuffing a dying Nowak after Digwa falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist attack. The incident has led to an official investigation into Hampshire Police’s actions and triggered riots in Southampton.
Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Lammy described the conversation with Vance as “robust” but “agreeable,” noting that the two maintain a long-standing personal friendship despite holding deeply conflicting views. Lammy also reminded Vance that Nowak’s family had expressly pleaded for his tragic death not to be used by political figures to fuel community divisions and hatred.
Downing Street has also issued a critical response to Vance’s comments, condemning external figures who attempt to interfere in British democracy and stir up domestic hostility.
The diplomatic tension comes at a delicate time for US-UK relations, which have faced strain after London declined to participate in recent American military operations in the Gulf against Iran.
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