See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 08:11 BST, 5 June 2026 | Updated: 12:26 BST, 5 June 2026
A top Labour minister today told Elon Musk and Donald Trump to stop interfering in the Henry Nowak murder scandal after the US government endorsed the billionaire's attack on 'two-tier policing'.David Lammy accused the State Department of presenting a 'caricature' of the UK after it laid into law and order in Britain in a late-night tweet about the death of the 18-year-old.And the Deputy Prime Minister told Mr Musk to concentrate on his business interests instead of flooding his X platform with tweets about the killing, which saw Mr Nowak treated as a racist suspect instead of a dying stab victim. It is the latest front in the battle between Downing Street and the US political right over the case.Keir Starmer has accused Mr Musk of 'interfering in our politics in the last few days, trying to whip up division' amid a debate over how police treat racism claims.The billionaire has posted numerous times on his platform about the case, including to offer to fund a private prosecution of Hampshire Constabulary.And last night the US State Department intervened, posting on X: 'Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilizational decline. They must be rejected across the West.'Speaking to Sky News this morning, Mr Lammy said: 'I think there's an IPO this week in the States on Starlink. Elon Musk should get on with that.'Asked about the State Department's tweet, he added: 'I don't recognise this caricature of Britain having a two-tier justice system.' David Lammy accused the State Department of presenting a 'caricature' of the UK after it laid into law and order in Britain in a late-night tweet about the death of the 18-year-old. Henry Nowak, 18, who was murdered by Vickrum Digwa, 23. The State Department slammed the UK's 'two-tiered policing system' in a statement released on Thursday Musk has posted numerous times on his platform about the case, including to offer to fund a private prosecution of Hampshire PoliceThe tweet was the first time the Trump administration commented on the politically explosive case.A Downing Street spokeswoman later said the Prime Minister rejected the State Department's suggestion of two-tier policing in the UK.She pointed back to Mr Lammy's comments, saying: 'Of course recognising that it has been a case that did huge public concern… we do reject any suggestion of two-tier policing across the UK.'A process is being followed to examine what happened in the case of Mr Nowak, 'but we don't recognise the characterisation of two-tier policing', she added.Asked about the UK's relationship with US, the spokeswoman said: 'As ever, it is incredibly strong. We work with them on a number of fronts right across our systems and that remains.'UK ministers are 'in regular touch' with US counterparts, she added.Stomach-churning police body cam footage of the incident was recently released, showing Mr Nowak pleading with police that he had been stabbed.'I don't think you have, mate,' one of the officers said as the teen was being handcuffed. The 18-year-old could be heard telling authorities that he couldn't breathe during the incident, which Musk has likened to the death of George Floyd. A minute or so after handcuffing Mr Nowak, the authorities realised the extent of his injuries and began to provide medical care. On Monday, Digwa was sentenced to life in prison. Mr Nowak's family met with Sir Keir on Thursday in Downing Street.
