Politics latest: Southport MP condemns killer's 'shameful' behaviour in court - as Starmer vows to 'deliver the change victims deserve' (original) (raw)

Shadow home secretary: Rudakubana 'should never be released from prison'

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp is the latest politician to give his reaction to the Southport killer's sentence.

In a post on X, he said Southport child killer Axel Rudakubana "should never be released from prison" and called for whole life orders to apply to cases such as his.

Rudakubana was 17 when he carried out the atrocity and anyone under the age of 18 cannot be sentenced to a whole life order.

The shadow home secretary continued: "The inquiry must find out if chances were missed to stop this happening. It must also cover what happened afterwards."

Southport killer's sentence being reviewed as possibly unduly lenient

Law officers have announced they have received a request to consider whether the 52-year minimum term prison sentence given to Axel Rudakubana was too short.

The Attorney General's office say the case was referred under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

Just one request is needed for a sentence to be considered.

The law officers - Attorney General Lord Hermer and Solicitor General Lucy Rigby - have 28 days to decide whether to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal.

There is a high threshold for a successful reference under the scheme - the sentence must be deemed to be not just lenient but unduly so.

Even if the threshold is met, the Court of Appeal may decide to refuse to review the case or uphold the existing sentence.

Southport MP Patrick Hurley has confirmed he submitted the request.

On X, he posted: "I've just heard the sentencing of Axel Rudakubana at Liverpool Crown Court.

"In my view, the sentence passed is unduly lenient.

"The crimes he committed were horrific and natural justice demands he spends the rest of his life behind bars.

"I have therefore made a request to the Attorney General to have the sentence reviewed urgently, with a view to making sure he is never released.

"My community deserves nothing less."

You can watch Sky's interview with Patrick Hurley on tonight's Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge from 7pm.

'We owe it to Southport victims to deliver change,' says PM

Sir Keir Starmer has described last summer's Southport attack as among "the most harrowing moments in our country's history".

Harrowing details about the triple murder have emerged today, as the killer was sentenced for three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.

The prime minister said Axel Rudakubana was a "vile offender" who the judge had made clear "will likely never be released".

The 18-year-old's been sentenced to at least 52 years in prison.

Having announced a public inquiry into the state's failure to prevent the attack, Sir Keir said "we owe it to these innocent young girls and all those affected to deliver the change that they deserve".

'Absolute disgrace': Southport MP condemns killer's 'shameful' behaviour in court

Sky's Sophy Ridge has been speaking to the MP for Southport on the day the teenager responsible for last summer's attack is sentenced.

Patrick Hurley told Sophy the details that emerged in court today about the triple murder carried out by Axel Rudakubana were "harrowing and intensely distressing for the whole town".

The 18-year-old stabbed to death Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

He also tried to murder eight other children, along with dance instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes, on 29 July last year.

He's been jailed for at least 52 years.

'I don't know how families have coped'

Mr Hurley, a newly elected Labour MP just weeks before the attack, said the local community had offered "immense" support to the families, whose harrowing victim impact statements were read out in court.

"My heart goes out to them," he said.

"The bravery, the strength they've shown is just off the scale. And I really don't know how they've coped."

Killer is 'a coward'

Rudakubana was not in the courtroom to hear his sentence, having repeatedly been removed for disrupting proceedings.

One of the parents shouted "coward" as he was taken out.

Mr Hurley described his behaviour as "an absolute disgrace", with a "shameful lack of remorse".

"This just exacerbates the pain and the suffering and the distress that the families have gone through," he added.

"He's not just a violent, murderous thug. He's a coward."

Call for changes to law

Mr Hurley is hoping the case might lead to two changes in the law.

One to allow judges to give under-18s a whole-life order, and another to compel defendants to appear in court.

Given he was just days away from his 18th birthday at the time, the Southport MP said he was "an adult in all but name".

He also hopes the public inquiry announced by the government this week will provide answers as to why he wasn't apprehended beforehand.

Mr Hurley continued: "There's been multiple elements of state failure over the past five years.

"Let's find out exactly what went wrong in the five years prior to July, and make sure that never happens again."

Watch the full interview on tonight's Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge from 7pm.

Millions to receive emergency alert ahead of Storm Eowyn

Millions of people will receive an emergency alert on their phone at 6pm this evening ahead of the arrival of Storm Eowyn.

The Met Office has issued a rare red warning across Northern Ireland tomorrow, and it also covers parts of Scotland.

A government spokesperson said those in the affected areas would get a loud siren-like noise played on their phone - even if it's on silent.

It will be accompanied by a message with information about the warning and guidance for staying safe.

"Approximately 4.5 million people will receive the emergency alert in the largest real life use of the tool to date," the spokesperson added.

The alerts were introduced in 2023, starting with a nationwide trial.

Alongside the alert, the spokesperson said there are "well rehearsed" plans for dealing with severe winter weather, and the government is working with the devolved administrations, local authorities, the emergency services, and other public bodies.

What areas are impacted?

Northern Ireland:

Scotland:

Badenoch: 'Strong case' for law change after Southport killer's sentencing

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has said there is a "strong case" for changing the law to allow under-18s to be given whole-life sentences.

She's just issued a statement following the sentencing of Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, who's been jailed for a minimum of 52 years.

While the judge said it's likely he'll never be released, he could not give the guarantee via a whole-life order because he was 17 when he committed his crimes last July.

Ms Badenoch said the Conservatives "will start to explore" whether the law could be changed.

She said the public inquiry announced by the government earlier this week must address why Rudakubana wasn't apprehended sooner, and the transparency of information in the aftermath of the attack.

Southport MP Patrick Hurley, of Labour, said earlier that he'd also like to see the law changed to allow whole-life orders in cases like this.

Is Starmer hoping for US trade deal?

A UK-US trade deal was long touted as a potential benefit of Brexit, but has never come to pass.

Could Sir Keir Starmer do what his Tory predecessors failed to do and secure one with the new Donald Trump administration?

A Number 10 spokesperson said the two countries already "enjoy a thriving economic relationship", and the government looks forward to working with Mr Trump's team.

Asked in this afternoon's briefing with journalists whether that meant Downing Street was open to a trade deal, despite concerns over what it might mean for food and farming standards, they said: "I don't think we rule anything out."

The PM is yet to speak on the phone to Mr Trump since his inauguration earlier this week.

Southport MP wants law change to allow whole-life orders for killers like Rudakubana

The MP for Southport has said he wants a law change that could allow whole-life sentences in cases like that of Axel Rudukubana.

He's being sentenced today for the murder of three young girls in the Merseyside town last summer.

Our crime correspondent Martin Brunt says the killer will get several life sentences with very long minimum terms, and may never be released, but he's not expected to receive a whole-life order - which guarantees a defendant will stay in prison for life - as he was under 18 at the time.

Southport MP Patrick Hurley told the BBC there's "no rationale" for not treating the teenager as an adult for sentencing.

He is now 18.

"If that's not going to be the case, then I would like to see the law changed to make it the case," he said.

You can follow updates from Liverpool Crown Court in our dedicated blog below - it contains details you may find distressing:

What is the loan charge?

The Treasury has launched an independent review into the loan charge.

The review will be led by Ray McCann - he's the former president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

What is the loan charge?

Introduced in 2016, it was designed to tackle historical tax avoidance schemes - but has been controversial.

It aimed to recover money from tens of thousands of freelancers and agency workers who were paid their salaries in tax-free loans.

This was widely promoted as HMRC compliant by lawyers and tax advisers in the 1990s and early 2000s, but that was not the case.

It's ended up making tens of thousands of contractors who were paid their salaries through loans retrospectively liable for tax their employer should have paid.

What's happened since then?

It led to the tax office retrospectively pursuing workers for bills they could not afford, years after their involvement in the schemes.

Those subject to the charge face paying back all the tax avoided in one go, with bills for some running into six figures.

A notable case in 2017 saw the Supreme Court agree with HMRC that schemes that redirect earnings and end up paying them in the form of loans don't succeed in avoiding tax.

A debate in parliament earlier this year likened the loan charge to the next Post Office Horizon scandal, with the harsh tax crackdown linked to 10 suicides**,** family breakdowns and bankruptcies.

What will the review do?

The Treasury hopes it will "bring the matter to a close for those affected", giving them support, "while ensuring fairness for all taxpayers".

Mr McCann "will review the barriers preventing those subject to the loan charge from reaching resolution with HMRC and recommend ways in which they can be encouraged to do so".

A statement said the government's response to the review will be consistent with its approach to closing the tax gap and the fiscal position.

'Don't be ridiculous': Miliband won't quit if Heathrow expansion approved

Expectations are growing that the chancellor will shortly voice support expansions for several UK airports as part of a raft of significant infrastructure announcements.

Reports suggest Rachel Reeves will use a speech on growth next week to give the government's backing to a third runway at Heathrow, work at Luton and Gatwick, and potentially give the green-light to a Universal theme park in Bedfordshire and the Lower Thames Crossing.

The economy vs the climate

Heathrow's proposed third runway has long troubled politicians split between economic interests and local opposition.

Boris Johnson famously said he'd lay down in front of the bulldozers when he was London mayor, and then missed a vote on whether to support the expansion when he later became an MP.

Sir Keir Starmer previously voted against it, while Ms Reeves voted for.

Sadiq Khan, Mr Johnson's successor as London mayor, has today repeated that he is against it.

Ed Miliband has also vocally opposed the project in the past, but - in a sign the cabinet may put on a united front - has said he believes the government can meet both its growth and climate missions.

Asked if he'd consider resigning if it was approved, the energy and net zero minister said: "Don't be ridiculous, no."