On January 21, 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Great Britain delivered a somber address, acknowledging the government’s failure to protect the victims of the tragic Southport murders. “The State’s failure (…) leaps off the page,” he said, a stark admission that resonated deeply with the nation.
For those unfamiliar with the horror that unfolded, on July 29, 2024, a devastating attack took place at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England. Axel Rudakubana unleashed a wave of violence, stabbing three young girls to death and severely injuring eight other children along with two adults.
The chilling nature of these murders exacerbated public outrage, especially when social media erupted with claims that the perpetrator was ‘Islamic’. This volatile mix of fear and anger ignited the largest riots Britain had seen in half a century. Initially, the government characterized these riots as the actions of right-wing extremists and reassured the public that the attacker was a British-born citizen, withholding further details under the guise of legal constraints.
However, as more information came to light, it raised uncomfortable questions about the government’s motives. Rudakubana, born in Wales, had a history that should have flagged him as a potential threat. He had been expelled from school for violent behavior, referred to the Prevent program three times without any follow-up, and confessed to carrying a knife on multiple occasions—all without intervention. Disturbingly, he had even purchased the murder weapon on Amazon at just 17, possessed an al-Qaida training manual, and produced ricin.
Why, then, did the government choose to remain silent about these crucial facts? Why label the riots as simply right-wing violence, downplaying the suspect’s clear motivations and his potential links to terrorism? The reality is that the stabbings were indeed the actions of a man with terroristic intent.
This tragedy intersects unsettlingly with the ongoing debates surrounding grooming gangs and whether a national inquiry should be launched. The same government that failed to act decisively in Southport is now facing scrutiny for its inaction regarding these gangs, with police officers allegedly refusing to take statements from victims due to fear of being labeled as racist. The outcome? Continued suffering as such gangs operate unchecked.
This raises critical questions: Does the fear of being accused of discrimination put public safety at risk? Does avoiding discussions around the ethnicity of offenders constitute discrimination itself? When the evidence is clear, is it stigmatization to acknowledge those facts?
When governments manipulate information and neglect to act on clear signs of crime, they signal a profound disconnect from their responsibility. When children’s lives are tragically cut short, the public deserves transparency about the who, what, and why. Our children represent the future. The British government has betrayed them—not once, but twice: first by failing to prevent such horrific acts, and second by withholding the truth from the public.
If the government genuinely aimed to quell the flames of unrest during the riots, it should have taken accountability rather than scapegoating right-wing factions as the sole culprits. This approach would have alleviated the suffering of countless non-white Britons unfairly associated with the horrendous acts. To be clear, I do not condone those who resorted to violence, and I am no advocate for such protests. Yet, a government must make choices that lead to constructive solutions, and evading responsibility is certainly not one of them.
So, dear Prime Minister Starmer, during times of crisis—because there will always be a next time—consider the power of honesty. Trust the public with the truth. Because in failing to do so, you won’t mitigate discrimination or the fear of terrorism; you will only stoke the flames further.
RosieGlobal 