Tories blame government secrecy for Southport attack conspiracy theories

The Conservatives have accused the government of contributing to conspiracy theories following last year's Southport terror attack. Labour minister Lucy Rigby defended the government against these accusations, labeling the claims as unfounded. Shadow solicitor general Helen Grant highlighted an independent review by Jonathan Hall KC. The review stated that a lack of information from the government, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and the police led to media misinformation and public distrust. In July 2024, a 17-year-old named Axel Rudakubana committed the attack, resulting in the deaths of three young girls and injuries to others at a dance class. Rudakubana was sentenced to at least 52 years in prison. Hall's report emphasized the dangers of digital prejudice and disinformation in such cases. Ms. Grant criticized the government's silence after the attack, suggesting it fueled the spread of conspiracy theories. She urged the solicitor general to accept that this secrecy eroded trust in the justice system. Ms. Rigby responded firmly, stating that the nature of the events required due process to ensure justice. She acknowledged ongoing discussions around legal contempt, which is under review by the Law Commission. Grant pressed for more transparency from the government in the future, referring to Hall's recommendations for better public information sharing. Rigby reiterated the seriousness with which the government views terrorism and confirmed the review's importance in addressing these issues. Lastly, Rigby mentioned a recent meeting between the Justice Secretary and the Sentencing Council regarding new guidance for judges. This guidance suggests that a criminal's ethnicity should be considered when determining sentences, a topic that some Conservatives have criticized as creating unequal justice. Rigby affirmed that equality is a fundamental principle of the legal system in the UK.