Nigel Farage's appalling remarks about Henry Nowak's murder made my blood run cold – Christine Jardine
The grieving family of murder victim Henry Nowak specifically said that they did not want his death ‘to be used to create further division, hatred or tension’
There was a moment last Wednesday when I realised we are in a bigger struggle for our nation’s moral soul than I thought. For once, Prime Minister’s Questions was taking place in a spirit of common purpose.
The Prime Minister had been challenged but there was civility in his approach and that of his opposition. Everyone was aware that this week, perhaps more than any other recently, the eyes of the country were watching. Waiting to see how we would react to the tragic loss of another young life to knife crime. This time within the most heartbreaking and horrific context of police failure.
How would we deal with the public despair that a young man’s pleas that he was suffering – and in fact dying – from stab wounds had been ignored as he was handcuffed? What would be our response to the riots that had engulfed Southampton after his killer's trial?
Henry’s family had called for calm. They wanted to see a dignity their son had not been afforded as his life ended. Anyone who watched the bodycam footage or heard of its contents could not want anything other than to listen to the family.
Until that is, Nigel Farage, in a rare appearance in Westminster, got to his feet and shattered the communion. In a moment that epitomised the worst of politics, he shamelessly sought to exploit the death of Henry Nowak for his own agenda.
It's a moment that has been curdling up for a while since the challenge of two bilateral referendums created unnecessary bitterness and division. You had to be one side or the other. Compromise a dirty word.
To hear the Reform leader apparently use the death of a young man in appalling circumstances for political gain – against the express wishes, the pleading of his family – left me sick to my stomach.
Earlier in the week, he came as close as any British politician I’ve ever heard to inciting violence when he called for people to react with “cold rage” to the death. I did feel cold, but it was in my blood as I watched him speak and then heard him defile the Mother of Parliaments with his attitude.
It's part of an increasingly dangerous trend towards the political right, a place this country has not been in my living memory. We have allowed political movements in our society, Trumpian in their approach, buoyed by unacknowledged donations, and exploitative of genuine hardship to gain strength.
All those who disagree must come back stronger to guarantee that freedoms we cherish are not lost. It’s not scaremongering or trying to 'bad mouth' an opponent, it is recognition of a frightening reality. As I listened to Farage, I did feel a rage but not the kind he was stoking.
This is a tragedy almost beyond words. We should be angry at Henry’s death and how he died. We should be angry about the rise of knife crime. Angry that, for an increasing number of people, carrying and using knives is the answer.
Henry’s family said: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.”
We must again learn to walk in other people’s shoes. Or we will get nowhere.
Christine Jardine is the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West