UK Deputy Prime Minister Challenges JD Vance Over Comments on Student’s Murder

LONDON: Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy said he confronted U.S. Vice President JD Vance over remarks linking immigration to the death of a British university student, describing their exchange as a “robust” but constructive conversation.

Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Lammy said he had spoken with Vance by phone the previous day to challenge what he considered inaccurate assertions regarding the circumstances surrounding the killing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.

“We had an agreeable conversation because we have got a relationship, but I wanted to make him clear that I disagree with some of the facts that he was asserting and to present the facts to him,” Lammy said.

The call followed comments made by Vance on the social media platform X, where he expressed outrage over Nowak’s murder and suggested the case highlighted broader concerns related to immigration.

Nowak died in December after being fatally stabbed in the southern English city of Southampton. The attacker, Vickrum Digwa, reportedly told police that he had been the victim of a racist assault by Nowak, a claim that investigators later determined was false.

According to reports, responding police officers initially treated the wounded Nowak as a suspect based on Digwa’s account before realizing he had sustained a serious stab wound and attempting life-saving measures.

Lammy emphasized that his conversation with Vance focused on ensuring the facts of the case were accurately understood. Despite their political differences, the two men have maintained a cordial relationship, often citing shared religious beliefs and similar family backgrounds as a basis for mutual respect.

The exchange highlights the sensitivity of debates surrounding crime and immigration in both the United Kingdom and the United States, particularly when high-profile criminal cases become part of broader political discussions.