Labour accuse Tories of 'conspiracy theories' amid fresh claims of Southport 'cover-up'
Axel Rudakubana has been charged with two further offences
GB News
Labour has criticised the two Tory leadership contenders who have accused the police involved in the Southport investigation of a "cover-up".
Robert Jenrick first accused the government and the police of withholding information regarding the suspect involved in the Southport stabbing which took place earlier this year - concerns which were repeated by shadow minister Kemi Badenoch and promptly refuted by Downing Street.
Responding to the leadership contenders, a Whitehall source said: “What these comments show is that — whichever candidate wins the Tory leadership — a party which used to stand for law and order, and respect for the police, is headed for a future built on conspiracy theories and the undermining of public faith in our institutions and public servants.
"In the best of circumstances, that lurch into the politics of division and distrust would be hugely depressing, but to do it on the back of the heartbreaking losses in Southport is simply despicable.”
Axel Rudakubana (court sketch)PASuspect Axel Rudakubana, accused of murdering three Southport girls, has been charged with two further offences - one of which falls under the Terrorism Act.
His other charge is for producing a biological toxin, which is an offence under Section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974.
However, the Southport attack is not currently being treated as a terrorist incident.
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Following this announcement, former immigration minister Jenrick said that government sources were withholding information, while Kemi Badenoch said that "there were serious questions to be asked of the police, the CPS and also of Keir Starmer's response to the whole situation".
The police have said that it is "certainly not the case" and have explained that specific details regarding a live police investigation are usually kept confidential.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "These additional charges will undoubtedly be distressing for people in Southport.
The Home Secretary has said these additional charges will "undoubtedly be distressing" for people in Southport
PA
"The most important thing is to get justice for Bebe, Alice and Elsie and their heartbroken families, and all those affected by the attack, and nobody should put that at risk.
"The police and prosecutors have an important job to do in their investigation, pursuing every avenue and taking the action they need to ahead of the trial.
"We must support them and ensure that everything possible is done to deliver justice."
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