Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has lambasted what he perceives as ‘two-tier policing’ following the absence of charges against youths involved in a violent altercation at Manchester Airport four months ago. The incident, which took place in July, has been compared by Farage to the swift action taken against those involved in riots following the Southport stabbings.
In a recent podcast, Mr. Farage dubbed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as ‘two-tier Keir’, highlighting what he views as a discrepancy in the justice system. “If that’s not two-tier policing and two-tier justice under two-tier Keir, I don’t know what is,” Mr. Farage remarked, underscoring his criticism of the perceived delay in prosecuting the airport brawl participants.
The Reform leader and Clacton MP, reported by the Mail on Sunday, intends to initiate a private prosecution against those implicated in the Manchester Airport chaos, which had previously sparked protests over allegations of police brutality. This move is expected to be announced imminently as a demonstration against what Farage claims is a bias against right-wing activists facing harsher legal consequences.
The incident on 23 July, captured on viral footage, showed a police officer allegedly stamping on the head of Fahir Amaaz, 19, during his arrest alongside his brother Muhammed Ahmaad, 25. The fracas drew significant attention when additional footage revealed the lead-up to the altercation, showing two female officers being attacked, with one sustaining a broken nose, before Fahir was subdued with a Taser. This prompted an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Tensions escalated further when the brothers’ legal representative, Akhmed Yakoob, described the fracas as an ‘attempted assassination’, inciting anti-police demonstrations in Rochdale, the brothers’ hometown. Despite the passage of four months, no charges have been pressed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), prompting Mr. Farage to engage two solicitors to pursue a case against the brothers.
A source close to Mr. Farage expressed frustration at the lack of charges, contrasting it with the rapid legal actions against individuals involved in the Southport riots. “We have a two-tier justice system in this country,” the source stated.
In his podcast appearance, Mr. Farage drew a stark contrast between the CPS’s inaction over the Manchester Airport incident and the swift legal response following the Southport disorder, which saw hundreds arrested and prosecuted. He questioned the disparity in handling these high-profile cases and reiterated his claims of unequal policing.
The CPS, in a statement to MailOnline, acknowledged ongoing consultations with Greater Manchester Police and the IOPC regarding the airport incident, emphasizing the complexity of the case.
The Manchester Airport altercation has raised concerns about the officers’ safety, with two officers suspended amid the public backlash. The CPS holds the authority to block a private prosecution by taking over and discontinuing it, yet any such decision would likely be contentious.
As the debate over policing and justice continues, Mr. Farage’s actions highlight ongoing tensions and questions about fairness and accountability within the UK’s legal system.
