Jo Cox was the Labour MP for Batley and Spen until, as many of you will know, she was deplorablymurdered prior to holding constituency surgery in June 2016. Thomas Mair has been convicted for the murder that shocked the nation. However, Labour colleagues got to their feet in the Commons yesterday and physically pointed to Cox’s plaque as they denounced Boris for using allegedly dangerous rhetoric such as ‘surrender’ and ‘betrayal’, other critics of the PM then took to all forms of media to order Brexiteers, especially the PM, to tone down their rhetoric, and suggested that if this did not happen then others would be murdered like Jo Cox.
Many have suggested that a new low was reached in British politics last night. Remainer MPs in the House of Commons and others the murder of the Labour MP Jo Cox to try to silence their critics and demonise Brexit. Events began to escalate yesterday when the Labour MP Paula Sherriff accused Boris Johnson of using heated language. He has referred to the Benn Act, an anti no deal piece of legislation, the “surrender act”. Paula Sherriff has taken exception to this stating that Mr Johnson’s comments were “offensive, dangerous and inflammatory”. She went on to say “our departed friend’ – Jo Cox” as she pointed to Jo Cox’s plaque.
This act has been received by many as one of the most cynical, censorious and shameful displays in UK politics in recent memory. The remain side have used a murder victim as a debate-ender. This will make large swathes of the electorate feel highly uncomfortable. One person who felt outraged was the outspoken Piers Morgan. A twitter spat with the Labour MP Neil Coyle resulted in Mr Coyle telling Piers Morgan to “go f*ck yourself”. The word hypocrisy was on everyone’s lips.
However, Jo Cox’s widow Brendan Cox has commented on these events. Mr Cox took to Twitter to state “Feel a bit sick at Jo’s name being used in this way”. Mr Cox did not apportion blame to one
side, and he added “Just to reiterate this is about the role we all play. Just as ‘surrender’ ‘betrayal’ is inflammatory language, so is ‘coup’ and ‘fascist’. Let’s all play our part in dialling it down”.
Many will feel that Brendan Cox’s comments put events and perspective, and many will hope that the already under fire MP’s have taken heed of their actions overnight.
Oliver Down UNN Lead Correspondent
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