Reform UK MPs call for ‘national debate’ on the death penalty after Southport killer sentenced

MPs in Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party have called for a debate on the death penalty after a killer who murdered three girls at a children’s dance class was sentenced.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, was given life with a minimum of 52 years in prison for the horrific attack which was described as a “pre-meditated attempt to commit indiscriminate mass murder”.

Judge Mr Justice Goose said he was unable to hand him a rare whole life order because he was only 17 at the time of the attack on 29 July last year. He turned 18 just nine days later.

Southport’s Labour MP Patrick Hurley said the sentence was “not severe enough” and he had asked the Attorney General to review the sentence as “unduly lenient”.

The Attorney General’s Office said the case had been referred under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, which requires just one request in order for punishments handed out in court to be reconsidered.

Attorney General Lord Hermer and Solicitor General Lucy Rigby have 28 days to decide whether to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice has called for a “national debate” on the death penalty.

The MP told LBC: "I don’t think we should be afraid of having a national debate on important big issues like this. I think that many people in the country would like at least a debate."

The last use of the death penalty in the UK took place in 1964.

Another Reform MP Rupert Lowe said it was "time for a national debate" on the use of capital punishment "in exceptional circumstances".

A third, Lee Anderson, posted a picture of a noose on his X account, adding: "No apologies here. This is what is required!"

Party leader Mr Farage also called for the director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson to resign.

He said: “The British public needs to have confidence in the CPS and our police forces. Tens of millions of British citizens will find it incomprehensible how the CPS decided this was a non-terror incident and maintained that position. Those in positions of power have to be accountable and responsible for their actions.”

Prime minister Keir Starmer described the killer as a “vile offender” who “as the judge has stated... will likely never be released”. He added that the “thoughts of the entire nation” were with the families and all those affected by the “unimaginable horrors” that unfolded.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “I cannot imagine the eduring pain their [victims] families are still going through. No punishment will ever seem like enough.

“The government has an urgent duty to the families and our country to learn the lessons from what happened, and ensure a tragedy on this scale can never happen again.”