The Prime Minister has criticized two Conservative leadership candidates for casting doubt on the police and government response to the Southport attack that killed three young girls.
Conservative leadership candidate Robert Jenrick said information about the attack was “hidden”, while his rival Kemi Badenock argued the government, police and prosecutors “have questions that need to be answered”.
This comes after 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana was charged with murdering three girls two more crimes – Includes one under the Terrorism Act.
Sir Keir warned MPs they could either “support the difficult work carried out by police on the Southport case” or “undermine” it.
Speaking at the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir told a packed House of Commons: “It is important that police and prosecutors are able to do their difficult jobs.
“We all have a choice, including those running for Conservative leadership, to either support the police in their difficult job or undermine the police’s difficult job, and I know which side I’m on.”
Badenock heard the comments in the House of Commons.
Sir Keir was responding to a question from Richard Tice, deputy leader of the Reform Party, who called on police to be more open to investigations.
Reform Party leader Nigel Farage was criticized after the Southport killings for questioning the police’s assessment of the attack.
After news of the additional charges against Mr Rudacubana emerged, Farage posted a video claiming “maybe I was right all along”.
Ruda Kubana appeared in court on Wednesday charged with producing the poison ricin and possessing military research reports on Al Qaeda training manuals, a crime under terrorism legislation.
Counterterrorism police are not currently treating the Southport attack itself as a terrorist incident.
The teen has been charged with the murders of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice DaSilva, 9 Alice Dasilva Aguiar, who died on July 29 during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
After reports of the new allegations, Jenrick told ITV News he wanted answers “when did the prime minister know”.
“A country should not lie to its own citizens,” he said.
Asked if he thought the government had lied, Jenrick said: “We don’t know the reasons for withholding this information.
“Why did it take police months to lay out the basic facts about this case when there was reason to believe they were known within hours or days of the incident?”
“Serious questions need to be asked of the police,” Badenock posted on social media. [Crown Prosecution Service] And Keir Starmer’s reaction to the whole situation”.
She said: “Parliament is the right place to do this.
“While we must abide by the contempt of court rules and not prejudice the case, it is important that a proper review is conducted.”
British Broadcasting Corporation Get to know senior government figures The possibility of new charges against a Southport murder suspect first became known in the past few weeks.
The prime minister’s spokesman said it was “incorrect” to suggest the government was hiding facts from the public.
The Crown Prosecution Service said laying charges would take some time as it was a “long and complex investigation”.
Ahead of PMQs, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle warned MPs that commenting on the Commons inquiry could seriously damage criminal proceedings.
While members may be frustrated at being unable to comment, he said: “More importantly, there are three young girls at the heart of this case.
“We all go out and seek justice for them and others affected by this appalling incident.”
Thousands of people attended a peaceful vigil in the town the day after the Southport attack, but another protest later turned violent outside a mosque.
This sparked a wave of protests in many towns and cities over the following days, resulting in violence and rioting, particularly against asylum center hotels.
more than 1,000 people were arrested, Hundreds of people were charged and jailed.
