Today I have met Lucy, Mark and Katie, Henry Nowak’s mother, father and stepmother. Their courage is extraordinary.
They have endured the most appalling loss, it is a life sentence for them.
They have also faced the agonising decision to release the harrowing body-worn camera footage, knowing how painful it would be and how strongly people would react. They did so because they want truth, accountability and change.
They have asked that we work across political parties and religions to rebuild trust in the police. That trust has been broken because of what happened, and I agree with them on that.
We must also be prepared to examine, carefully and seriously, religious practices or exemptions that permit the carrying of dangerous weapons in public, and other activities that are not conducive to the public good. We also need to examine where the law needs to change.
Henry’s family do not want anger to tear communities apart. They are a family who have friends across faith and race, and so did Henry. His family want his memory to help bring our society together.
Everyone knows I have strong views about how we should deal with equality under the law. What the family agreed with me on is that we need to bring common sense back, and that is what we should all be fighting for.
I promised the family that we will work to ensure there is a positive legacy for Henry out of this tragedy.
That is my focus now.
Been getting a lot of very positive reaction to my extended interview with @KemiBadenoch - which has now had over 600k views.
Her party may still be very unpopular but Ms Badenoch is getting increasingly popular.
Tonight, Question Time is in Makerfield for a by-election special
Joining Fiona on the panel are Andy Burnham, Michael Winstanley, Jake Austin, Sarah Wakefield, and Robert Kenyon
Watch at 9pm on @BBCiPlayer, @BBCSounds & the @BBCNews channel, 10:40pm on @BBCOne#bbcqt
Opinion | The SNP's Holyrood election win is tainted by the Peter Murrell guilty plea.
Scots voted on May 7th without the crucial knowledge of the former SNP CEO's corruption.
https://t.co/kKtS16SQvn
Join Question Time for a Makerfield By-Election Special
On the panel: Andy Burnham, Michael Winstanley, Jake Austin, Sarah Wakefield, and Robert Kenyon
Thurs 4th June at 9pm on @BBCiPlayer, @BBCSounds, and the @BBCNews channel
Apply now: https://t.co/3ivO2BXgl1
#bbcqt
8) The day after Murrell ordered the motorhome, he purchased from Amazon three guides to inspirational journeys around Scotland, England & Wales and Ireland in a camper van.
Tomorrow's front page: Nicola Sturgeon refused to give a witness statement to SNP fraud probe cops despite public claims she was helping detectives
#tomorrowspaperstoday
https://t.co/MLURt8v6wi
I’m reminded in 2016 Colin Beattie did take the time to call for action on discrepancies in the size of Toblerone whilst he was SNP Treasurer yet missed the fact Peter Murrell was spending members’ money on camper vans, watches, and luxury egg cups https://t.co/kjIdGA6Sb3
If a scottish solicitor’s client account was embezzled by an employee - and the subsequent investigation revealed this total lack of oversight and supervision - I would expect the solicitor to face disciplinary proceedings
This is what leadership looks like.
Kemi addressing the problems that led to the mishandling of the incident.
Anger at murder of Henry Nowak is completely understandable, but won’t address the underlying problems. A fundamental change is needed in our thinking on race issues.