Home secretary Yvette Cooper clashed with Chris Philp in the Commons amid the ongoing row over the government’s decision to initially withhold information about Southport killer Axel Rudukabana. The pair went head-to-head as Cooper revealed more details about the public inquiry which will be held into the murder of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town last summer.

The Home Secretary stressed that what could be made public had been limited to avoid prejudicing the trail until yesterday when Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty to murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside, in July.

Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty to killing three girls at a dance class in Southport in July 2024, as well as a terrorist offence

Axel Rudakubana, 18, stands trial for the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “We welcome the Government’s announcement of a public inquiry into the devastating actions of Axel Rudakubana in Southport. “There are many questions that remain unanswered about what went wrong.

Yvette Cooper has called for calm so justice can be done ahead of the trial of the man accused of murdering three girls at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport...

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper vowed to act after killer Axel Rudakubana was "easily able" to buy a knife on Amazon despite having previous convictions for violence. She said: "That's a total disgrace and it must change.