Friend of Nuneaton stabbing victim grills party leaders in question time – and is not impressed

A friend of tragic Nuneaton stabbing victim Tom Ellis grilled politicians during the BBC’s Question Time on knife murders – and was unimpressed by what they had to say. Steven Rose spoke during the BBC1 debate in Birmingham last night (June 27).

He told presenter Fiona Bruce, the panel of MPs Andrew Mitchell, Yvette Cooper, Stephen Flynn and Layla Moran and the audience about his friend, who he said they lost “in an instant” after he was stabbed on Queens Road on the night of Saturday, June 8.

Addressing the first question of the night, he said: “Just three weeks ago in my home town of Nuneaton, my friend was stabbed and killed outside a shopping centre. A 16-year-old was arrested and charged. panel) you say you’re going to increase the police presence to try to tackle anti-social behavior and knife crime, but what else are you going to do about it?”

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Presenter Fiona Bruce said “Steven, first of all, my condolences for your friend Tom Ellis and I know you have been given permission by his family to speak about him. First, just tell us about him.”

Steven went on to talk about the former Higham Lane School pupil. “I’ve probably only known Tom for just over 12 months when he joined our squash club but he fitted right in,” he said. “He was a nice boy, a gentle giant, he had a partner. They used to go up to the squash club and have a social drink on a Friday night, probably because it was a nice and easy safe place to go and have a drink I suppose. .

“He was a great fit, loving life, 25 years old, doing what anyone else would do. He had a job, was saving for his first property so they could find a place to live together. Then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone.”

He explained that he had read the main parties’ manifestos on tackling knife crime and anti-social behavior and said: “Murderers, you say you’re going to label people, in my opinion, it’s like putting a collar on a Bully XL as it can still bite you. Conservatives say they’re looking at AI for facial recognition, there’s no point in doing that unless you stop people walking through balaclavas and hoodies, so if you don’t support that, there’s no point. good.

“The Lib Dems are going completely in the opposite direction where they actually want to reduce stop and search and UK reform – they say they want custodial sentences for carrying a knife and they want to increase stop and search.” Fiona Bruce replied: “And that’s something you’d welcome, wouldn’t you?” to which he said, “I would rather have that than some of the others.”

Each of the MPs on the show then spoke about their plans for knife crime and anti-social behaviour, but still failed to impress Mr Rose, who wants tougher sentences for those caught with knives.

“I think in some ways people are trying to make excuses for what young people are doing today,” he said. “I grew up in the winter of discontent, the big dollar tails, we went through the same times, when it was hard at times,” he said.

He added: “It comes down to a basic fundamental question, people know right and wrong, if you go out with a knife it’s wrong. This must be instilled in people, whether it comes from parents. , schools If there is no deterrent, a deterrent, then what is a deterrent?”

Inquiries into Mr Ellis’ death are ongoing. A 16-year-old, who cannot be named, has been charged with murder.

The teenager was remanded in custody to appear at Warwick Crown Court on Friday, July 12.

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