Downing Street rejects US claim of ‘two-tiered policing’ over Henry Nowak death - as it happened

Downing Street has rejected the US state department’s suggestion of “two-tiered policing” in the UK, while insisting Britain’s relationship with the US remains “incredibly strong”.

In a statement, the prime minister’s spokesperson referred to comments made by David Lammy this morning during a media round (see post at 09:19 ). The spokesperson said: “We do reject any suggestion of two-tier policing in the United Kingdom.

“The deputy prime minister [David Lammy] said mistakes can be made in any public service, it is right there is now an investigation going on.”

When asked how Keir Starmer would characterise the UK-US special relationship, the spokesperson said: “As ever, it is incredibly strong.

“We work with them on a number of fronts right across out systems and this remains.”

Ministers are “in regular touch” with their US counterparts, they added.