Grandfather of girl knifed by Axel Rudakubana accuses Keir Starmer of ‘protecting himself’

The grandfather of a young girl who survived being stabbed by has accused Labour leader Sir of prioritising political self-preservation over transparency and accountability.

Speaking out about the harrowing attack last July in , which claimed the lives of three children and left their families shattered, the grandfather criticised the authorities and political leaders for failing to prevent the tragedy and withholding critical information.

Rudakubana, whose and troubling obsessions was well-documented, had been referred to the Prevent anti-extremism programme three times before the attack.

He was also under the watch of mental health services, children’s social care, and the youth justice system.

Despite these interventions, the 19-year-old was able to carry out the brutal attack, leaving the community to grapple with the devastating consequences.

“There were too many missed opportunities,” the grandfather told . “Organizations were not communicating with each other, and political correctness seemed to take priority over addressing the real threat he posed.”

The grandfather pointed to Rudakubana’s expulsion from school for carrying a knife and subsequent violent behaviour as clear warning signs that were ignored.

Adding to the families’ frustration was the delay in revealing that Rudakubana was in possession of ricin, a deadly biological toxin, and the fact he had downloaded an Al Qaeda training manual.

These revelations were only made public months later, in October, fueling suspicions of a deliberate cover-up. The grandfather alleged that higher-level political forces suppressed the information to manage public perception.

In an adsress this week, the Prime Minister said he could not reveal this information as he did not want to risk the collapse of the subsequent trial

Rudakubana was not charged with terrorism because there was not enough evidence to substantiate that he was motivated by an ideology, but the Prime minister yesterday acknowledged that ‘terrorism has changed’.

said the law may need to be changed to represent the danger posed by ‘misfit’ men.

“We were told not to talk about it,” he said. “It became clear that someone above Merseyside Police and the CPS intervened to keep the truth hidden.”

The grandfather reserved some of his harshest criticism for Sir , accusing him of failing to confront the reality of the incident. “He chose to protect himself rather than allow the truth about the killer to come out earlier,” he said.

“We were pushed aside and forgotten.”

When Sir Keir visited Southport shortly after the attack, his gesture of laying flowers was met with hostility from grieving families and a disillusioned community.

The grandfather, who watched the scene unfold from his granddaughter’s hospital bed, described the visit as hollow. “He didn’t listen to us. It felt like an empty gesture.”

The grandfather welcomed the announcement of a public inquiry but made it clear that symbolic gestures and platitudes would not suffice. “We don’t want to hear thoughts and prayers or promises of ‘lessons learned.’ We need concrete action and the dismissal of everyone who failed in their duty.”

He also highlighted the emotional toll the attack has taken on the broader community, calling for more comprehensive support for extended family members who are grappling with trauma. “Step-parents, aunties, uncles, and grandparents have all been left to struggle on their own.”

The grandfather praised King Charles for his personal engagement with affected families during a private meeting in August. “He spent over an hour and spoke to everyone. It showed us that some people in positions of power do care.”

As the community awaits the outcome of the public inquiry, the grandfather’s impassioned plea underscores the need for systemic changes to prevent similar tragedies. “This has massively affected us all,” he said. “We deserve accountability, not excuses.”