Keir Starmer emphasizes the need for change following the tragic Southport murders, urging a national response to protect children.
Starmer expressed deep sorrow for the families affected, noting that every parent in the country could relate to their pain. He emphasized that this incident should mark a turning point in how the UK protects its children. The Prime Minister acknowledged the need for tough questions to be asked about the failures in the system that led to this tragedy.
He pointed out that the perpetrator had been flagged multiple times for intervention but was deemed not a threat. This misjudgment, he said, is a clear failure that must be addressed. Starmer stressed that the focus should now be on ensuring such a tragedy never happens again.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the changing nature of threats in Britain, noting that terrorism now includes acts of violence by individuals inspired by online content. He called for a review of the country’s counter-extremism strategies to tackle this new reality.
Starmer promised that nothing would be off the table in the inquiry into the Southport attack. He urged for accountability and change, stating that the public deserves better. The tragedy must lead to real action, not just promises. He reassured the nation that the inquiry would aim for meaningful change to prevent future incidents like this.
