Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended himself against accusations of a "cover-up" in the Southport murders case while acknowledging he was aware of key details during the investigation.

The PM revealed he was "kept up to date with the facts as they were emerging", including information about ricin and terrorist documents found in the killer's home. He maintained he had to "observe the law of the land" throughout the case.

Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty on Monday to the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift dance class last summer.

The victims were identified as Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who were killed on July 29 last year.

The 18-year-old's guilty plea came as Starmer admitted the British state had failed the three girls who were brutally murdered.

On Monday, Yvette Cooper announced a public inquiry into how Southport killer "came to be so dangerous".

The Home Secretary said Britain must "face up to why this has been happening and what needs to change" with an inquiry to find out the "truth".