Does UK’s new far-right party, Restore, pose a threat to Farage’s Reform?

Britain's Sikh community is defending their right to carry the ceremonial kirpan after the murder of an 18-year-old student, Henry Nowak, by Vickrum Singh Digwa, who received a life sentence. The case has reignited a debate on race, religion, and identity in the UK. Following the murder in Southampton in December 2025, some figures, including far-right leaders and Elon Musk, have called for a ban on the public wearing of the kirpan, alleging biased policing. Police body camera footage from the incident shows Nowak struggling to breathe while being handcuffed, and Digwa claiming he was a victim of a racial attack and that Nowak had removed his turban.

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones is calling for a review of religious exemptions for carrying knives following the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton last December. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life for stabbing Nowak, carrying a "large Sikh dagger" which he was able to possess due to religious exemptions. Jones described the incident as a "national tragedy" and plans to write to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The judge noted Digwa's use of the weapon was an abuse of religious privilege. The article also highlights criticism of police handling of the scene, with body-worn camera footage showing officers initially disbelieving Nowak's claims of being stabbed.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak in Southampton. Digwa will serve a minimum of 20 years before parole eligibility. He fatally stabbed Nowak five times with a 21cm knife, which he claimed to carry for religious reasons. Digwa also falsely told police Nowak had racially abused him, leading to Nowak being arrested and handcuffed before his fatal injuries were discovered. The judge stated Digwa's actions stirred racial tension and brought shame to his community and religion. Nowak was walking home from a night out with his football team when attacked. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the police's actions.

Following riots over the death of Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed while dying from a stab wound, Minister Sarah Jones has appealed for calm. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed Nowak's case demonstrates unfair treatment of white people in the UK, contrasting it with the response to George Floyd's death and the Black Lives Matter campaign. Farage argued this highlights a two-tier culture where white people's rights matter less. In response, the Home Secretary indicated a need to review police anti-racism guidance and engage with the Sikh community and knife crime campaigners to understand necessary changes.

Protests erupted in Southampton after video emerged of police handcuffing 18-year-old Henry Nowak as he lay mortally wounded. Nowak was stabbed by a Sikh man and falsely accused of racially abusing his attacker. In bodycam footage from December, Nowak repeatedly told officers he couldn't breathe. Far-right figures, including Tommy Robinson, have used the case to claim police discriminate against white Britons, speaking at a rally in the city. Protesters threw bricks at police during the demonstrations.

Hundreds of people protested in Southampton following the murder of Henry Nowak, with dozens clashing with police. The demonstration, which included far-right activist Tommy Robinson, took place outside a police station and near the home of the killer, Vickrum Digwa. Protesters chanted slogans and hurled objects at officers, accusing them of racism and demanding accountability for Nowak's treatment. Nowak's father urged against using his son's death to create division, but Robinson and UKIP leader Nick Tenconi alleged institutional racism and "woke policing." Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the disorder, stating there is no justification for hijacking the tragedy.

A new far-right party, Restore Britain, has emerged and is potentially challenging Nigel Farage's Reform UK for the anti-immigration vote. Restore, launched by former Reform member Rupert Lowe, has pledged an "ambitious programme of mass deportations" and has attracted over 96,000 members and 13 councillors, many of whom defected from Reform. This splintering of the far-right vote is seen by some as Reform UK becoming too "mainstream" for extremist elements, creating a gap that Restore aims to fill. The article highlights this dynamic in the context of an upcoming by-election in Makerfield, where Restore's candidate is polling at 7%, potentially impacting Reform UK's chances.

Following the murder of Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwa, a Sikh man, far-right figures like Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson are attempting to exploit the case to incite racist resentment against minority ethnic Britons. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned Farage's calls for "cold rage," emphasizing that Nowak's family explicitly requested the case not be used to target communities. The incident, which occurred in Southampton in December 2025, has also drawn attention to the police's handling of Nowak's final moments, with body-camera footage showing him handcuffed despite being stabbed. Far-right commentators and activists have used this to argue for "two-tier" policing. Sikh groups have reported facing increased abuse and hate crimes since the murder.