Nadia Sawalha sparks outrage as ITV star unleashes furious Nigel Farage rant in wake of Henry Nowak killing

The Reform UK leader posted on social media that the case revealed “two-tier Britain…where the rights of white people matter less than ethnic minorities.”

He urged the public to respond with “pure cold rage” to the conduct of police officers who arrested the dying 18-year-old after his attacker, Vickrum Digwa, falsely claimed he had suffered racial abuse.

Mr Farage argued this reaction should convey that people have had “enough of anti-white prejudice” and that “white lives matter just about as much as black lives.”

His remarks have sparked condemnation from across the political spectrum and from critics such as Ms Sawalha.

The ITV Loose Women star took to Instagram to publish a video in which she praised Mr Nowak’s father’s composure upon hearing of Digwa’s life sentence. She also used the platform to address Mr Farage’s comments.

“My goodness, I’ve just watched Henry Nowak’s father’s statement, and I found it absolutely heartbreaking,” she began. “We’ve all seen the video, of course, the horror story of how his son died.”

She went on: “But to see him standing there, his dad, calmly, describing what his son went through and with such clarity asking for something real to be done for a real difference to be made, and for his son’s appalling death to not be used to create more division, and more rage, and more hate.

“Then to see Farage and Zia Yusuf stamping all over what that family has asked for. I don’t know about you, but that makes me sick to my stomach.

“More violence came out of Nigel Farage’s statement yesterday. Our hearts, I’m sure, most of our hearts are properly with the family, not with this mock caring.”

Ms Sawalha’s social media post quickly garnered attention from her followers, many of whom disagreed and accused the presenter of “missing the point” as well as “doing the exact thing” she accused Mr Farage of.

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One Instagram user promptly fired back at the presenter’s comments: “You’re so wrong on this, change is needed and you’re missing the point massively,” they began.

“The bodycam footage is heartbreaking. Henry repeatedly told officers he had been stabbed and needed help, yet he was treated as a suspect rather than a victim. The police response raises serious questions that deserve answers.

“Henry and his family deserved better, and the ongoing investigations must establish exactly what went wrong and ensure lessons are learned. Just because you don’t support Farage doesn’t mean he wasn’t right in what he said!”

A second similarly disputed Ms Sawalha’s stance: “Horrific case. There is white racism in motion. The police have been told to be on the side of non-whites. That’s terrifying.

“Government is causing huge division on purpose. Christians also get arrested for preaching on the streets. Things are going to get worse, sadly. Terrifying future for UK.”

And a third put to the Loose Women star: “Can I please ask, did you have an issue with people running amok on the streets rioting and looting all over the world in the case of George Floyd?”

“Ask yourself why there is a divide?” a fourth hit back. “Maybe if you all stop trying to ram genocide down our throats and taking over the streets with your protests. You are doing exactly what you are accusing Farage of doing, fanning the flames.”

Elsewhere, a fifth critic fumed: “More division??? Are you on drugs? It’s a two-tiered system.”

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A post shared by Nadia Sawalha (@nadiasawalha)

However, Ms Sawalha’s supporters similarly rushed to the comments section to echo her sentiment in the wake of Mr Nowak’s death

“People should stop using this situation to push their political agenda. People are angry and rightfully so,” one Instagram user typed.

A second echoed: “Me too, Nadia. We are together on this. Evil is evil and not defined by skin colour or race. This has been totally hijacked. RIP Henry.” (sic)

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer similarly hit back at the Reform UK leader, accusing him of exploiting the teenager’s death to manufacture “grievance and division.”

During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, the PM dismissed Mr Farage’s two-tier policing allegations, insisting that politicians must approach the case with “serious work, not rage.”

Mr Starmer emphasised that Mr Nowak’s relatives “don’t want this whipped up” and condemned Mr Farage’s intervention as “completely wrong to use this to try and create division.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, while sharing concerns about policing practices, also distanced herself from Mr Farage’s rhetoric, stating: “We don’t need rage, which is what Nigel Farage is pushing.”

Mr Nowak was just 18 when he was stabbed by Digwa on December 3 while on his way home in Southampton. Digwa, 23, stabbed Mr Nowak with a kirpan and claimed he had been racially abused when police arrived on the scene.