Labour MP says Reform UK leader stoked division after Southampton protests

A Labour MP told GB News that Nigel Farage incited violence by urging rage after the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak and the protests that followed in Southampton. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby said Farage was responsible for stoking division in his statements following the death.

She told the network that his call for rage was the wrong approach and that 11 police officers were injured during the disorder.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Farage told MPs that public anger in Southampton risked getting considerably worse and asked whether the government would end what he called two-tier policing. The Prime Minister responded that Farage was exploiting the tragedy to create grievance and division.

Rigby backed those remarks, saying the government had responded with respect for the family's wishes and had asked serious questions without encouraging violence.

Interview exchange GB News host Ellie Costello asked Rigby how Farage had incited violence. Rigby replied that when Farage suggested people respond with rage, he knew what he was doing and that political leaders should channel public devastation into questions rather than disorder.

Costello interjected that the government has no role in policing someone's rage. Rigby concluded that serious questions are being asked and that the footage of the incident was almost unbearable. An Independent Office for Police Conduct spokesman said officers involved are being treated as witnesses while investigators review body-worn footage and other evidence.