The father of Molly Russell, the teenager who died after viewing harmful online content, has accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of “gambling with young people’s lives” as the government prepares to unveil proposals restricting under-16s’ access to certain social media platforms.
Ian Russell criticised Starmer over the timing of the expected announcement, suggesting the prime minister was prioritising political considerations amid ongoing speculation surrounding his leadership.
Starmer is expected to reveal on Monday that the government intends to prohibit young people under the age of 16 from using some social media services. However, Russell described the prime minister’s conduct as “deplorable”.
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Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Russell said: “In opposition, Keir Starmer promised to tighten up the online safety world by regulating better.
“Early last year, father to father, I met with him briefly and he was very concerned – and he promised me he would look into effective solutions to deal with this problem.
“But as we sit here on the verge of this announcement, it seems that he’s not kept either of those promises.”
Molly Russell’s Father Criticises Timing Of Social Media Ban Announcement
Russell said Starmer had previously assured a group of bereaved parents that an announcement on online safety measures would come before Parliament’s summer recess, which begins in mid-July.
According to Russell, the accelerated timetable raised concerns about the motivations behind the move.
“He promised a group of bereaved parents” that an announcement could be expected by the summer recess, he said, adding: “So he’s rushed that forward for some reason.
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“I can’t think of a reason other than a political reason… if he’s playing politics, what he’s doing is gambling with young people’s lives – and I find that deplorable.”
Molly Russell died in 2017 at the age of 14 after being exposed to harmful material online. Her death has remained central to calls for tougher protections for children using digital platforms.
Lisa Nandy Defends Government’s Urgency On Child Online Safety Measures
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy rejected Russell’s criticism, insisting that urgent action was necessary to protect children online.
Appearing on the same BBC programme, Nandy said she “respectfully disagreed” with Russell’s comments.
“There is an urgency to this because young people need help now and we cannot stand aside and not act when we see that very clearly,” she said.
“The tech companies have had more than enough time to get their own house in order and to be able to create products to keep children safe online. If they’re not prepared to do it, they lose the right to market their products towards children, and I don’t think the government should be neutral about that.”
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