Doreen Lawrence makes racial equality plea to politicians after Henry Nowak murder

Politics
4 Jun 2026 • 3:39 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Doreen Lawrence makes racial equality plea to politicians after Henry Nowak murder

  • Baroness Doreen Lawrence has urged politicians not to lose progress made on racial equality in the UK, following the murder of Henry Nowak.
  • Her comments responded to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who compared Nowak's murder and the police's response to that of Stephen Lawrence, suggesting society was going 'backwards' due to 'pernicious identity politics'.
  • Henry Nowak, 18, was fatally stabbed in Southampton on 3 December 2025, with his killer, Vickrum Digwa, 23, receiving a life sentence.
  • The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced it would review its anti-racism guidance, which currently establishes a 'commitment to racial equity'.
  • During a House of Lords debate, peers discussed police training and the role of 'identity politics', with Lady Lawrence criticising some peers' understanding of race equality.

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