Farage’s Response to Three Murders Compared in Guardian Column
9 reported
A Guardian opinion column by Marina Hyde examines Nigel Farage’s public responses to three murders over the past decade, arguing his reactions have been inconsistent. The column focuses on the murders of Jo Cox in 2016, Sarah Everard in 2021, and Henry Nowak in 2026. According to the column, Farage went to ground for days after Cox’s murder and later focused on campaign momentum. After Everard’s murder, he warned against attacks on men and police but did not make a statement when police broke up a peaceful vigil. In contrast, the column states Farage hired an Airbnb and gave a speech after Nowak’s murder, despite the victim’s father asking that the death not be used to create division. The column criticizes Farage for what it describes as selective engagement with national tragedies.
What’s reported
The column compares Farage’s responses to the murders of Jo Cox (2016), Sarah Everard (2021), and Henry Nowak (2026).
Jo Cox, a Labour MP, was murdered by a far-right terrorist during the 2016 EU referendum campaign.
After Cox’s murder, Farage went to ground for days and later said, “I think we had momentum before this terrible tragedy.”
Sarah Everard was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by a serving police officer in 2021.
After Everard’s murder, Farage stated, “We must not allow the tragic murder of a young woman to turn into attacks on men and attacks on the police.”
The column says Farage did not make a statement when police broke up a peaceful vigil for Everard.
Henry Nowak, a student, was stabbed by a Sikh man in Southampton and died in handcuffs after police were summoned on a false pretext of racial abuse.
Nowak’s father asked that his son’s death not be used to create further division, hatred, or tension.
The column states Farage hired an Airbnb and gave a speech after Nowak’s murder.
Key figures
Nigel Farage, politician and Reform UK leader
Jo Cox, former Labour MP
Sarah Everard, murder victim
Henry Nowak, murder victim
Marina Hyde, Guardian columnist
Sources: The Guardian
