The Prime Minister is in York this morning (Thursday).
Sir Keir Starmer has been visiting the construction work underway at York Central.
During his visit, he talked to reporters about the response to the murder of Henry Nowak.
He accused Elon Musk of trying to “whip up division” in the UK over the tragedy and said Britain needs to “assert who we are” as “reasonable, tolerant people”.
The billionaire X owner has posted numerous times on his platform about the police response to the stabbing of the teenager in Southampton last year, criticising “how heinously Nowak was treated by the police in his dying moments”.
Violent protests erupted near where the 18-year-old was murdered amid an outcry over his treatment, after his killer Vickrum Digwa claimed he had been the victim of a racial attack, while Mr Nowak was handcuffed by police who ignored his pleas that he could not breathe as he lay dying.
The Prime Minister told reporters during a trip to York on Thursday: “We need to also assert who we are as a country, because Musk, again, has been interfering in our politics in the last few days, trying to whip up division – that is not who we are in Britain.
“In Britain, we are reasonable, tolerant people.
“When we have a terrible case like Henry’s case, Henry Nowak, we react calmly, as his family have done.”
Finance student Mr Nowak’s treatment by police has triggered a political row, with Sir Keir branding “unforgivable” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s suggestion that the public should feel “pure, cold rage” about the case.
Sir Keir’s visit to York comes at a time when his premiership is in question.
Potential Labour leadership rival, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, is campaigning in the Makerfield by-election.
Both York’s Labour MPs, Luke Charters and Rachael Maskell, are backing Mr Burnham, and have joined him on the campaign trail.
