Yvette Cooper blames social media for 'misinformation' around Southport murders as she defends Labour's stance

While the media were barred from reporting on these details, rumours were able to spread on social media about Rudakubana's identity and family history - which both Cooper and Sir Keir Starmer have today vowed to address.

In the Commons, the Home Secretary said: "The British way of justice means information is presented to the court by police and CPS with restrictions on what can be said beforehand so the jury does not get partial or prejudicial information in advance to make sure that the trial is fair and justice is done.

"Social media puts those long established rules under strain, especially where partial and inaccurate information appears online."

That sparked a heated exchange with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who said: "Does she accept there should and could have been more openness and transparency, as I just set out, without prejudicing the trial and that disclosing more of that truth, openly and transparently, would have helped combat the damaging misinformation that circulated and which arguably fuelled the riots?"

Cooper pointed to the 2021 murder of Sir David Amess MP, saying: "Let me point out to him that the previous Conservative Government did not publish information before the trial about the Prevent referral for the perpetrator who killed Sir David Amess.

"None of us criticised them for that, because none of us wanted to put at risk justice for Sir David's family."

Starmer earlier said today that the sharing of information online which does not appear to be following contempt of court rules "needs to be addressed" and will be part of what the Government looks at.

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The Prime Minister told reporters: "It is true that we live in a different age... information is now available online as well as offline, and I understand the frustration of all, including some journalists, who observe the rules and don't report what they know because they know that the law doesn't permit it.

"It runs the risk of collapsing a trial, only to see information online that doesn’t appear to be following the same rules, and that is not acceptable.

"That has to be addressed and will be part of what we will be looking at - because that can't be right.

"The importance of the rule about not disclosing this information is to ensure that the trial can take place, and that where an individual is guilty, they're held to account, as has now happened in this case.

"That is why the law carefully restricts what can be said by anyone, not just me as Prime Minister, but anybody in these circumstances, and it is done to protect the family and their victims.

"That is the right thing and that is what the law requires."

Multiple different agencies were in contact with Rudakubana and knew about his history of violence before his horror attacks at a dance class in Southport last year, Cooper confirmed to the Commons today.

He was referred three times to terrorism prevention scheme Prevent between December 2019 and April 2021, she said.

Between October 2019 and May 2022, Lancashire Police responded to five calls from his home address about his behaviour.

He had contact with Children's Social Care, the Early Help Service, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Rudakubana had also been convicted of a violent assault against another child at school, and was referred to the local Youth Offending Team.