Gideon Amos raises Nottingham stabbings at Prime Minister's Questions

Local MP Gideon Amos has called on the Prime Minister for an update on the inquiry into the violent deaths of Taunton student Barnaby Webber and two other people in Nottingham.

Barnaby and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, were stabbed on their way home from a night out by Valdo Calocane, who also went on to kill 65-year-old Ian Coates in June 2023.

It was announced in February that a judge-led inquiry would take place into the attacks.

Mr Amos raised the matter during Prime Minister’s Questions today (Wednesday).

He told Sir Keir Starmer: “A recent NHS England report laid bare the catalogue of failures that left a patient with a history of violent aggression unconfined, untreated and completely unmedicated for nine months, until he killed Ian Coates and the young friends Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, from Taunton in my constituency.

“Will the Prime Minister join me and the people of Taunton in paying tribute to the families who have campaigned on this matter? Will he confirm that a public inquiry is to begin?

“Given the 50% cut to integrated care boards, will he also confirm that mental health services, both in the community and secure, will not suffer as a result of those cuts?

The Prime Minister replied: “I thank the Hon. Gentleman for raising that tragic case, and I pay tribute to the families.

“When it comes to cases such as this, I often find it hard to think how I would respond if I were a family member in such circumstances.

"I am not sure I would have the courage that those families have to campaign in the way they have done, and I pay tribute to them for it.

“We need to get to the bottom of all these issues, wherever they may lie, and that is what we will do.”

Mr Amos said afterwards: “It’s really important that we stand by the whole Webber family and everything they are doing to secure justice and a proper investigation into what happened.

“Just as Taunton residents have shown their support, my role is simply to provide my support to Emma, Dave and Charlie in what they are trying to do.

“Last year’s memorial service for Barnaby at the Minster brought out the joyful way in which he deserves to always be remembered”.