A judge has referred comments made by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to Britain’s Attorney General, Richard Hermer, accusing him of possible contempt of court. The referral follows Nigel Farage’s criticism of the country’s legal system after two trials for a Pakistani Muslim man accused of attacking police officers at Manchester Airport collapsed.
In July 2024, 20-year-old Mohammed Fahir Amaaz and 26-year-old Muhammad Amaad were arrested following an incident at Manchester Airport where police officers were attacked on video. The men initially claimed to be victims of police brutality but faced significant delays in prosecution.
Farage criticized the delay in prosecutions, stating: “A system of two-tier policing, under two-tier justice, under two-tier Keir [Starmer, the Prime Minister], has really taken hold. You only have to look at the reluctance to prosecute those violent thugs in Manchester Airport who beat up the police officers.”
Judge Neil Flewitt KC referred Farage’s remarks to Britain’s Attorney General after determining they potentially implied guilt of the defendants and constituted contempt of court. While convictions were secured for attacks on some officers, the two men will not face a third trial for an attack on one officer following two jury deadlocks. Widespread speculation indicates jurors withheld convictions due to reluctance to prosecute members of their ethnic or religious community.
