Kemi Badenoch has accused Nigel Farage of “playing identity politics” after he called on people to respond to the murder of Henry Nowak with “pure cold rage”.The Conservative Party leader said Mr Farage was acting like a “rabble-rouser” as she accused him of “whipping people up” over the 18-year-old student’s death.Mr Nowak was ignored by police officers when he told them he had been stabbed, and instead died while being arrested after his killer claimed he had been the victim of a racial attack.The case has been seized on by politicians including Mr Farage, Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk.In a video statement on Tuesday morning, the Reform UK leader said Mr Nowak was “treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder” and said people should react with “pure cold rage”.The Conservative Party accused Farage of ‘whipping people up’ over the 18-year-old student’s murder (PA)But Mrs Badenoch condemned the address, and told The Times his call “is not what someone who is proposing that they become the prime minister should be saying.”“For all of those who are putting ourselves up to be prime minister in this country, we should be acting like statesmen and women, not acting like rabble-rousers. We don’t need rage. We need courage and bravery and cool heads, not anger and whipping people up,” she said.She also accused him of “playing identity politics” and “dividing people on racial lines”.“For him to say that means that he is doing exactly the same as the Black Lives Matter movement, which I completely oppose. He’s just the flip side to that. He’s following their playbook of talk about who is the victim, who is being oppressed, making sure people get angry and start lashing out,” she said.Nigel Farage issued a video statement on Tuesday (AFP/Getty)“Nigel Farage, like so many others, is playing identity politics. He doesn’t care if we split into tribes as long as he can pick one tribe off for himself and win elections or win votes.”She later wrote on X: “Identity politics divides our country whoever is doing it. The Conservative Party rejects it. We believe in universalism and equality under the law. We must not treat people differently on the basis of skin colour. We have to build faith and trust in our institutions.“ If there is one thing that should come from Henry’s death, it is that we make things better, so that this does not happen to any of our boys again. That is what I am committed to. I do not want his death to be in vain. Henry Nowak’s killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, told police attending the scene of the stabbing in Southampton on December 3 2025 that he had been the victim of a racist attack (Family handout)“Let’s do this for Henry. Let’s get this right.”Mr Nowak’s killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, told police attending the scene of the stabbing in Southampton on December 3 2025 that he had been the victim of a racist attack.In body-worn camera footage from the incident, a handcuffed Mr Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying: “I’ve been stabbed”, to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.”Policing minister says people should 'allow justice to do its course' (PA)Two people were arrested for assaulting police and possession of a weapon after hundreds gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station on Tuesday where Tommy Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – and actor and campaigner Laurence Fox were among those who spoke to the crowd.Violent scenes broke out after a large group walked across town to the area of Portswood, as demonstrators chanted “Henry, Henry” while the line of police were pelted with bricks.Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said the scenes were “completely unacceptable” and accused the demonstrators of “hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder” .