It would have been hard to have worked in the development area over the last few years and not have come across Jo and Brendan Cox. I did. And my heart goes out to Brendan, their children and their wider family and friends. I cannot imagine their grief and the challenges they face. I can only offer my heartfelt sympathy.
I hope I will be forgiven though for adding some further thoughts. Jo Cox worked for development charities, was committed to equality, and to creating a better world. She was not alone, of course, in doing that but it does take courage on occasion to do so. She had that courage. It appears she has paid an enormous price for it.
What does that say? Three things come to mind. First, that this was clearly a political attack. It is hard to disassociate what she believed in from her death.
Second, I hope it makes people realise that politics is an honourable activity worthy of respect, even though that is not a popular opinion.
Third, put these two thoughts together and it very clearly demands serious reflection on the nature of politics at present. It must be said, however obvious it should be, that there is no room for hate in politics. Difference of opinion is, of course, a part of political life, but respect for others is vital to the success of that process. Today's attack is exceptional (although sadly not previously unknown: I also know Stephen Timms, the last MP to suffer an attempt in his life) but let's not pretend that means it is a matter of unfortunate chance. There is an element of hate in British politics. Of course, and thankfully, that does not usually lead to violence of this sort. But I would make a simple request, and that is that right now we challenge that political hate. This means that right across the political spectrum anyone who offers a politics of hate must be spurned, and that this should be done courageously, openly and as bravely as Jo Cox would, I think, have wanted.
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It is appalling and very disturbing.
I certainly offer the MP and her family my deepest sympathy.
But I cannot honestly believe the man taken into custody is of sound mind.
He may well not be
But that does not change my sentiments
It’ll be interesting to see if indeed he clearly isn’t of sound mind, and turns out to be someone who may well have been in some sort of supervised confinement were it not for government cuts to the mental health budget, the courts and the probation services.
You imply you have information abut this ‘political’ murder that the police do not have. If so, please pass it on to them.
I do not and you will never post here again
Shocking, disturbing and such a waste of a genuinely charitable and humane person. Rest in peace.
What was quite nice was that I saw Andrew Mitchell on channel 4 (the type of Tory for whom I would normally have very little time) clearly and genuinely upset. It’s clear that she has great appeal and there seemed a genuine bi-partisan affection for her.
Still so sad; we need more MPs of her calibre and heart-breaking for the family.
I so agree, his sentiments were heartfelt and comforting to her loved ones I am sure.
Yes indeed. A tragic loss to her family, her consituency, Parliament and all the distressed people she so bravely fought for during her shortlife.
I agree with you Richard that, although this is clearly one of those random (although possibly pre-mediated) crimes that thankfully rarely occur in the UK it does in parallel raise the issue of the state of political debate right now. Whatever the state of mind of the accused, the murder was politically motivated. From all that I’ve read and heard over the past months there does appear to be some sort of consensus that this referendum has not been conducted as well as one might reasonably expect from a mature parliamentary democracy such as ours. Frankly, I’m appalled by how low some politicians have been prepared to demean themselves by the shamefully emotional and hyoperbolic tactics they have employed. Once again I raise the issue of the amoral marketing industry in all its guises which is behind the scenes and seemingly beyond control.
Of course politics can be a ‘dirty business’ because it’s all about winning and 2 party FPTP systems tend to accentuate the competitiveness. Here in the UK there is little tradition for co-operation among groups that share different views, as the last Coalition proved. And, as you say, when hate is added into an already turbulent mix then we really are in deep trouble.
The immediate responses to Jo’s death from all sides of the political spectrum have been warm and sincere in the best tradition of the House. It seems she was genuinely liked by everyone whose path she crossed. So, if there is an identifiable hate agenda lurking anywhere beneath the surface then it must be up to all the party leaders & managers to eradicate it immediately and ruthlessly. I hope they realise the potential threat to our democracy and can act in unison to do whatever has to be done. You are absolutely right to flag up the issue.
Once again heartfelt condolences to Brendan Cox, his children and family.
One newspaper in particular has peddled xenophobia and anti-immigrant rhetoric, and has engaged in a campaign of unrelenting hostility to foreign aid and international development. It lies endlessly, shamelessly and with complete impunity.
At an appropriate time this may be worth highlighting, Paul. You are right.
Jo was a ‘do-gooder’ – a term of abuse by some.
When there’s talk of lying endlessly, shamelessly and with complete impunity, I think immediately of Iain Duncan Smith. Yet he survives both in government and in life despite the apparent purpose of his lies, made one imagines in the pursuit of profit, being to create the same social division and hatred which has apparently led to the death of one of his blameless parliamentary opposites. An opposite in every way, one must feel. Many are lamenting the existing antagonistic atmosphere presently pervading the country. Should we not rather be seeking to make accountable those responsible for it?
I think that’s well out of line.
I don’t agree with much/any of IDS’s views, leas of all on Brexit, but I think he’s a fundamentally decent man & to use the death of Jo Cox to launch an attack on him is imo frankly despicable
Paul, which one is that? Quite a few of the tabloids fit that description; Sun, DM, The Express, The Star……………
This is a terrible and tragic event which will traumatise the whole country to some degree.
I can’t help feeling that the debasement of politics is linked in with this. The fear mongering of the Brexit campaign and the vacuousness of the Remain have indeed deepened a feeling of anger toward the political class.
The murderer did have a history of mental illness ( let’s be clear: many more murders are committed by those who are NOT so diagnosed)and may have projected his personal issues onto the victim. When a human being commits an act of such violence he or she dehumanises the victim to the level of symbol of their inner resentments and personal psychological wounds.
But we need to acknowledge that our society has become one of hate and scapegoating much of it done by politicians if we look back at the last five years (scroungers/strivers/those with their blinds drawn/ sanctions related deaths etc. etc.) this has bred a most dreadful atmosphere in this country with many feeling forgotten and humiliated and left without hope.
The referendum has deepened this problem and become a focus for much public anger that has been simmering for years. The vile obsession with immigration by some in politics has been deeply manipulative , deliberately aiming at emotional exploitation. This man shouted ‘Britain First’ as he committed this act, in that respect it was political.
This does not excuse this disturbed man’s terrible act one iota but we need to see it within the framework that politics is itself creating.
One thing is for sure: after this, the vileness of the referendum will, no doubt, be toned down and there will need to be some reflection on the demise of the political sphere and the underlying need for people to be listened to and not treated like surplus population.
In the West, we have a culture that sees crime as purely an act of an individual. In eastern traditions crime is (was?) seen as a wider issue within a culture.
Jo Cox was reduced to a symbol for someone’s hate and resentment. Would it have happened anyway, without the tawdry referendum dragging everything down to knee jerk level? I don’t know, but it may prove a terrible wake up call to us all to pay attention to a politics that has lost its mooring in reality.
As a Quaker I want to hold the victim and her family in the ‘Light’ AND the perpetrator whose inner suffering must have been extreme to have led him, an apparently caring man who liked to help people and did much voluntary work in his neighbourhood, to commit this shocking act.
let’s hope there is a period of reflection and stillness-it’s what is needed.
Sorry: A bit rambly, it is all profoundly upsetting.
Note for you: apologies for all the typos. Written in haste. I’ll soon be competing with you, haha!
I was deeply saddened to hear of the fatal stabbing and shooting of the much loved politician and campaigner Jo Cox.
A terrible blow at the heart of democracy, and a devastating loss to her family.
My prayers are with them and all those who share in their grief.
We listened earlier to the words from Brendan Cox. Sentiments that every person should be reminded of every day. There is no place for hate.
I’m sick of this referendum.
I don’t think that the deceased would want any of us to give up voting for what we believed in John.
This is likely the one and only choice in your life time you’ll have to affect your future. The EU is an economic failure which intends to become a communist political force.
You might be tired of the campaigning, but look carefully at who is abusing this awful news: it’s the ‘stay chained’ camp.
This awful event should be mourned, and the family given space to grieve without the public machination of hate fuelled, frightened Left wingers.
I am going to leave others to respond to this if they wish
It was one of the kinder of its type that was posted
It sickens me that a Labour MP can be killed and this is the response
Phil is clearly suffering from serious hullucinatory experiences if he seriously thinks the EU is ‘Left Wing’ or, indeed that there are many ‘Left Wingers’ anywhere in the corridors of power. Phil-the ‘Left’ died in the 1970’s and has been marginal ever since.
My own Labour constituency has cancelled any campaigning and will reconsider the situation on Monday. We have a whole planet dominated by finance capitalism and globalisation and Phil thinks a Left Wing cabal is running the show…………what?
Phil
There are lot of things wrong with your post – please allow me to go into detail.
‘This is likely the one and only choice in your life time you’ll have to affect your future.’
Rubbish. You can vote in local elections and national ones in the UK every so often. But if you continue not to take new ideas and new personalities seriously then you will keep voting in the usual crowd who will do nothing for ordinary people. You (and those like you) only have yourselves to blame if you cannot see the difference in the choices you make.
‘The EU is an economic failure which intends to become a communist political force.’
The EU is like everywhere else in that is under pressure from an American induced financial crash in 2008 that is still hurting economies everywhere – not just the EU. And, just like your country, the EU has decided to employ austerity measures to deal with it – measures that are well known only to make things worse. As for being ‘communist’ – I suggest you read up a little more on communism. Thanks.
‘You might be tired of the campaigning, but look carefully at who is abusing this awful news: it’s the ‘stay chained’ camp.’
Not strictly true is it Phil? All sides have stood down and even Cameron whose own party and media who have done so much to wind everyone up – have stopped too. And Cameron as ‘winder-upper in chief’ has gone all contrite and compassionate again – well – at least until 2020 (if he’s still around).
Oh dear Phil
‘This is likely the one and only choice in your life time you’ll have to affect your future’.
Rubbish. There are a number of opportunities to vote both locally and nationally in this country for a better life. If more of us would give new ideas and new people a chance, we’d get better results. Unfortunately more of us tend not to vote or vote for the same old same old.
‘The EU is an economic failure which intends to become a communist political force.’
Wrong. The EU is just like the rest of world in that it is suffering from the after effects of a global financial crash caused by one of the most badly ran economies in the world – the United Sates of America – in 2008. Added to that, just like dear olde blighty – the EU is using austerity to try to deal with it and the cure is killing the patient – just like it is here. The EU is also suffering from huge inflows of migrants caused by conflicts that it has not caused directly. So it has problems but it is not finished.
As for the EU being a ‘communist’ – you need to do some more reading.
‘You might be tired of the campaigning, but look carefully at who is abusing this awful news: it’s the ‘stay chained’ camp.’
Codswallop. ALL sides in the EU referendum have stood down and even the master whipper-upper of hate and division himself David Cameron has become all contrite and reasonable in order to calm things down – well at least until 2020 – if he is still around.
‘This awful event should be mourned, and the family given space to grieve without the public machination of hate fuelled, frightened Left wingers.’
There is a smidgen of satisfaction in your sentiment here that suggests that the Left are frightened (shame on your Sir). The Left you may have noticed appear both in the in and out campaigns depending on the politician’s POV. If Jo had been for exit and had been killed would you come across as so ‘happy’?
Jo seems to have died because she was not backing a right-wing fuelled effort to leave the EU. The harsh fact is that this women, this open and accessible politician, this mother, wife, activist, effective campaigner and helper of the weak was killed by someone with Right-wing leanings in a right-wing created scenario – the EU referendum.
It is the Right who may have something to fear now. I hope not in reprisals in kind but because maybe more people in the cold light of day will think correctly and reject the sort of behaviour that produces this sort of outcome. And in doing so, reject Cameron, Boris and Farage.
For anyone to do otherwise means that they are fundamentally lost.
Are you feeling a bit lost Phil? Hmm?
Loner. Mentally ill. The right wing answer to everything
So we can ignore his ideology. The press will never consider that a far right political stance might incite violence, so we get – even here – the “mentally ill” excuse.
I know nothing about this case. I have only read the online press. (All quotes from:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/16/suspect-in-mp-killing-described-as-quiet-polite-and-reserved?subid=13809088&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2) .
“In 2011, Mair spoke of how he had volunteered to work as a groundsman at the nearby Oakwell Hall County Park, which had helped ease his mental health problems.
“He told a local newspaper: “I can honestly say it has done me more good than all the psychotherapy and medication in the world. “Many people who suffer from mental illness are socially isolated and disconnected from society, feelings of worthlessness are also common mainly caused by long-term unemployment.
“All these problems are alleviated by doing voluntary work. Getting out of the house and meeting new people is a good thing, but more important in my view is doing physically demanding and useful labour.”
Crazy? Isolated and disconnected. Caused by society that blames mental illness for all kinds of unrelated problems.
Perhaps the neighbours know about this loon.
“Kathleen Cooke, 62, said: “I am really shocked. He walked past my house this morning and said hello like he always does. He was wearing a grey T shirt and his white baseball cap like he always does and he was carrying a small rucksack.
“He is just a quiet bloke who keeps himself to himself. “He is very helpful and he helps local people with their gardens. There is one neighbour who is a bit frail and he keeps her garden tidy. He has helped me cut my hedge a couple of times.
“He has lived here for 40 years and has never been in any trouble and has never caused any trouble. He sometimes used to shout at the local kids if they played too near his house but that is fairly normal.
A quiet bloke who helps elderly neighbors with their gardens? Section him.
Alternatively, a lonely man, isolated and vulnerable, radicalized by extreme right-wing ideas.
“A name matching that of the alleged suspect appears on an extremist website. It describes him as “one of the earliest subscribers and supporters of” a certain extremist publication which is alleged to be linked to white supremacy.”
I found him listed as a subscriber and supporter of S. A. Patriot, a South African magazine that was published by the pro-apartheid group, the White Rhino Club.
The club describes the magazine’s editorial stance as being against “multi-cultural societies” and “expansionist Islam”. A blog post attributed to the group, dated January 2006, described Mair as “one of the earliest subscribers and supporters of S. A. Patriot.”
Racism, anti-immigrant and specifically anti-Muslim bigotry, fed by a hate organization. Be honest; which is more likely to lead to the murder of a pro-choice, pro-multi-culture, pro-remain, pro-diversity, pro-Palestinian politician: bigotry or “mental illness”?
Most probably both Ross but that is for the police and court to decide, not any of us or we fall into the age old trap of jumping to conclusions without all the facts.
I will defend what I have said, what Jeremy Corbyn has said, what David Cameron has said and what the Guardian is saying tonight, I notice.
An MP has been killed. The chance that was chance, let alone manslaughter is remote in the extreme. The suspect was doubly armed. I think this a murder.
There may be a claim in due course that the person who it seems likely will be accused of the offence – and the police say they are looking for no one else – may claim diminished responsibility. But the chance the charge levied will be murder seems very likely.
And I have no hesitation saying this was politically motivated. A person may be mentally ill but still politically motivated. The two are not mutually exclusive. I think it rather offensive to say that they are. Even if there are other factors – and there may be – politics is very likely to be a factor.
In that case it is true that those engaged in politics have to remember that those hearing their message may not hear it rationally.
Politicians have been selling fear of foreigners. They have sold xenophobia. And they have sold an aggressive interpretation of the merits of isolationism. And that message has been heard.
I am not saying any politician anticipated or desired this outcome. But the politics of hate has been apparent in the UK and I think it plausible that is linked to this crime.
And I think it appropriate to say so. As I note, so do others. And I would suggest now is not the time to provide those who pretend this offence was not political any chance to promote that so obviously false idea.
I am not sure Richard if your lengthy comment above was specifically in reply to mine, or more generally to others that may have been made elsewhere, but as it appeared below my reply to Ross who appeared to have already concluded that the alleged assassin was more likely to be a racist bigot than mentally ill, then I found your reaction to my comment odd (but perhaps understandable in the circumstances).
However, we do still live in a country that is proud of its rule of law and therefore everyone must be presumed innocent until proven guilty, no matter how heinous the crime as this one clearly is.
As for the possibility or effect of mental illness, my only observation is that the highly unusual accounts of a mild mannered, harmless person on the one hand with a potential alter ego of a neo-nazi influenced murderer is not something that can be dismissed without extensive clinical assessment of paranoid schizophrenia amongst several other mental disorders.
I make no conclusion or assumption or aspersion of anyone in my comments, my mind remains open and I trust our legal system to deal with the matter in the appropriate way. I trust my few comments on this terrible incident are taken in the spirit in which they are given.
I do not dispute that the due process of law must run its course
But to susoebd debate until that happens is neither realistic or wise
What a gigantic loss to her loved ones and to politics. She had the respect of many who met her by all accounts, all speak of her dynamism and compassion. May her little girls prosper and still feel the love of a remarkable person.
“First, that this was clearly a political attack”
One witness has described that Jo Cox became involved when she intervened in a street scuffle
And the brother of the man detained has said his brother had known mental health problems and had no strong political views to the point where his brother didn’t even know who he voted for. And the half-brother of the suspect (who is mixed-race) has said he never heard his half-brother discuss race or immigration issues and they got on well together.
Are you saying you know what happened better than witnesses and knew the suspect better than his own brother and half-brother?
Shame on you for using such a tragedy in such an opportunistic way.
I note my belief is shared by the prime minister and leader of the opposition
Oddly only those from the far right seem to disagree
Yo will never comment here again
What a pathetic little excuse for a man you are.
I cannot imagine how that is in any way an appropriate response to a reflection on a murder
It deeply saddens me
I hope it will you too on reflection Brenda
It appears Brenda has her ‘facts’ from the BBC who claim that the police do not yet know the motive.
That tells you all you need to know about where Brenda gets her ‘news’!
What she doesn’t realise is that the prime minister and the leader of the opposition would already know the motive of the accused person because the police would have already told them, as they are supposed to do.
I had never heard of Jo Cox but I echo everyone’s sadness at this terrible event, and condolences to the family.
The evidence of buy-standers seems to be varied. But what is clear is that this terribly event IS being misused by Libertarian conspiracy theorists:
See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtDKfd-pEGw unstomachable, I turned it off after a few minutes.
Thanks Simon – as you say, unwatchable for more than a few minutes and nauseating. But it illustrates whats out there and what has in effect been legitimised by the politicians leading the Brexit campaign.
A bit of research on Paul Joseph Watson is revealing…
Brenda
The point of view you have expressed here is simply disgusting.
Its sad, in fact shameful, that “moderate’ English patriots aren’t willing to come on here & condemn the acts of one of their “radicalised” bredren
A very fine lady and an inspiration
For those with a musical bent, then listen to Dylan’s ‘A Pawn in Their Game’. And wonder what has changed…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXWM84rUV-Q
So will the ‘chessmasters’ be called to account?
I was quite in shock last night at the news as I’m sure Richard was and I think Richard is certainly right “on the balance of probability” though possibly not “beyond reasonable doubt” that it was indeed a political attack. Personally I would have waited for more information but I have the luxury of far greater time, but I believe he would one the last people on Earth to use an event like this for any political advantage. He I think like me would find it an alien and disgusting concept. As for “Ad Hominem” such as Brenda’s (If you can’t get the ball get the man); there is no place for this in any reasoned discussion. For the record I think Richard is possibly verging on greatness, which is why I am continue to contribute here; hope this doesn’t embarrass him too much!
I seriously doubt that I am verging on greatness
I just try to write honestly
And it is absolutely the last thing that I would do to exploit this: I agonised before writing anything, but I believe words help
I think that the suspected perpetrator really is likely to be of unsound mind.
But that is likely to be all the more reason that he has been encouraged by the toxic terminology of the Brexiters, David Cameron, and Goldsmith with their slurs on Sadiq Khan before the London Mayoral elections and almost all of the tabloid press most of the time.
So underfund mental health – indeed all health, make everyone feel like loosers when they earn less than £20K, ask people to fear outsiders and be surprised when people take desperate measures to ‘correct’ their situation.
And Cameron got a first at Oxford.
Richard
I’m sorry I did two posts – the first disappeared from the screen (rural broadband) so I started again – I had to – I felt so strongly.
Sorry.
The Leave campaign has repeatedly emphasised how Islam and by implication all Moslems are directly responsible for acts of terrorism, and that we are threatened by a flood of Moslem immigrants, bringing more terrorism.. One only has to check the posters.
And yet the messages the Leave campaign promotes are in their way as virulent as those of the Islamists and their madrassas. But now they are quick to deny that those messages might have incited violence. They cannot have it both ways
That glaring hypocrisy needs to be challenged. Those who are choosing to sup with them need to consider whether their spoons are long enough. And whether their cause really justifies such a sordid campaign
Robin in my view both sides of the campaign are guilty of stoking fear and anger across this land with their threats and claims across a whole range of issues in this referendum. I have personally taken little or no interest in anything they say and recommend everyone do their own research and come to their own conclusions.