𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Survivors of the Southport massacre have warned of empty promises from Labour as they are “yet to see hard evidence of any real change”. Monster Axel Rudakubana, then 17, killed three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, 2024 and attempted to murder 10 others.

Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice de Silva Aguiar, 9, died after sustaining multiple stab wounds during the attack. And the Government on Thursday published its formal response to the horror. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, in a statement to Parliament, confirmed the Government has accepted all 67 recommendations from a damning probe.

Teachers will be trained to spot killers to avoid a repeat of the Southport atrocity, Shabana Mahmood has revealed.

They will be given a greater role in preventing tragedies, with the Department for Education drawing up “strengthened” guidance on referring violent children to Prevent and more training to spot the signs of radicalisation.

And more parents face fines if they fail to prevent their children running amok, with ministers backing the use of more ‘parenting orders’.

Taxi drivers will also be ordered to report any criminal activity they witness whilst working.

The inquiry found parents Alphonse Rudakubana and Laetitia Muzayire knew their son was hoarding knives, had been making poison in his room and had a sick obsession with violence.

Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, of Fletchers Solicitors, which represents the families of 22 survivors, said: “Our clients are pleased that the Government have accepted all the recommendations outlined by the inquiry chair, but the parents of these girls are yet to see hard evidence of any real change.

“Much of today’s report outlines consultations and desires to amend policies or guidance across multiple agencies, but until the work is done these are just promises.

“It’s almost two years since the Southport attack devastated this community, but only days ago, another depraved teenager was sentenced for possessing numerous weapons and explosives to carry out a mass killing.

“The families affected by this tragedy need to see firm timelines and detailed plans around how changes will be implemented, and how their impact will be measured.

“They want to be involved in conversations with these agencies to inform changes. And finally, this must not get lost when our new prime minister is decided – delivering on these promises must remain a priority for whoever comes into power.”

On Thursday it emerged the taxi driver who fled the scene of the Southport stabbing attack and waited 50 minutes before calling 999 has had his licence stripped.

Dashboard camera footage, played to the public inquiry into the attack, showed how Gary Poland drove away as screaming children streamed out of the building in what he described as being “like a stampede for their lives”.

Sefton Council confirmed his taxi licence has since been revoked because he “did not meet the appropriate standards”.

Shadow Home Office minister Alicia Kearns said: “Lord Anderson’s report confirms the unbearable truth: Southport was preventable. Three little girls, Elsie, Alice and Bebe, were murdered at a dance class, and the state had every chance to stop the monster who killed them.

“He was referred to Prevent three times by his own school. Three times he was turned away.

“We support the Government accepting every one of Lord Anderson’s recommendations.

“But accepting a recommendation is not the same as acting on it, and this Government has a dangerous habit of confusing the two.

“Most damning of all, Ministers have still not created the offence of planning a mass-casualty attack that Jonathan Hall KC called for back in March 2025. Tinkering at the edges of knife law is not the same as making it a crime to plan to slaughter the innocent.

“That gap remains – and every day it stays open is a day we gamble with children’s lives.

“Fix Prevent. Close the loophole. Before another family is destroyed.”

The Home Secretary said: “The Southport Inquiry identified fundamental failings, across many of our public services, in the years leading up to July 2024. These devastating failures led to the senseless killing of three young girls and violent attacks on others.

“My thoughts today are first and foremost with the families and friends of Bebe, Elsie and Alice and all the victims of that awful day. We owe it to them to right these wrongs.

“For that reason, we have accepted Sir Adrian’s recommendations for central Government in full. My department will now drive this work across Government, with the urgency it deserves.

“We will do whatever is needed to protect the public.”