Keir Starmer has launched a direct attack on Nigel Farage’s call for “pure, cold rage” in the wake of Henry Nowak’s murder.

The Reform UK leader sparked an angry backlash over his comments, which came after Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the killing.

Henry himself was arrested by police officers after being stabbed four times by Digwa, who falsely claimed he had been racially abused.

In an “emergency address” broadcast online on Tuesday morning, Farage said the case is evidence of “two-tier Britain” and proved that “an accusation of racial slur [is taken] more seriously than an act of murder”.

“The rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities,” the Clacton MP said.

“We should respond to this with pure cold rage,” Farage said. “Britain’s historic way of life is being thrown away.”

On Tuesday evening, protesters threw missiles at police in Southampton as violence erupted at a “Justice For Henry” event.

At prime minister’s questions, Starmer paid tribute to the “extraordinary dignity” shown by Henry Nowak’s family, who have said his death should not “be used to create further hatred, division or tension”.

He said: “There are serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking, and are supporting the [Independent Office for Police Conduct] to get to the bottom of what happened.

“But no matter the pain we feel, there is no justification for more violence and disorder.

“The attacks directed towards police officers in Southampton last night were disgraceful and completely unacceptable.

“This is a time for serious work, not rage.”

After Farage repeated his claim that the Nowak case proved there is “two-tier policing” in the UK, the PM accused him of “exploiting” the teenager’s death for political gain.

He said: “I don’t believe there is two-tier policing in this country. I am really shocked that he pretends respect for Henry’s family and then acts in this way. They are a grieving family.

“The grieving family have asked us not to respond in the way… they make a simple pledge to us as human beings to please not exploit that.

″[Farage’s] response has been to appeal for rage. Rage. That’s his response to a father who has lost his son and asked for this not to happen.

“To do it when the family are expressly saying please don’t is unforgivable. It shows exactly who he is.”

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