Boris Johnson's Jo Cox comments spark fury as PM says best way to honour murdered MP is to 'get Brexit done'

Sean Morrison @seanmorrison_26 September 2019
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Boris Johnson is facing a huge backlash after he said the best way of honouring murdered Labour MP Jo Cox would be to “get Brexit done”.

The Prime Minister prompted gasps in the Commons after he made reference to Mrs Cox – the MP for Batley and Spen killed by a far-right extremist just days before the EU referendum in 2016 – during a heated debate about Brexit.

It was also condemned by Mrs Cox's husband, Brendan, who said it left him feeling "a bit sick".

Tracy Brabin, who was elected to the Batley and Spen seat after Mrs Cox was killed, had called for the PM to moderate his language during the debate.

Mr Johnson was criticised for his repeat use of “Surrender Act” when describing legislation aimed at preventing a no-deal Brexit on October 31.

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday night, Labour's Ms Brabin said: "As the woman who has taken over a seat left by our dear friend Jo Cox, can I ask him in all honesty as a human being please, please will he going forward moderate his language so that we will all feel secure when we're going about our jobs."

Boris Johnson speaks in the House of Commons on Wednesday
PA

Mr Johnson replied: "Of course there will be an attempt to try to obfuscate the effect of this Act, but it does - the capitulation act, or the surrender act or whatever you want to call it - it does, I'm sorry, but it greatly enfeebles, it greatly enfeebles this Government's ability to negotiate.”

"But what I will say is that the best way to honour the memory of Jo Cox and indeed the best to bring this country together would be, I think, to get Brexit done,” he added, prompting gasps from MPs across the chamber.

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson was among those to criticise the PM for his response to the request, calling him a “disgrace”.

As the debate over Mr Johnson's remarks continued, she later revealed she has had to report a threat against her child.

Ms Swinson appeared to fight back tears as she told the Commons: "I today have reported to the police a threat against my child.

"That has been dismissed as humbug. This is a disgraceful state of affairs, and we must be able to find a way to conduct ourselves better."

Mrs Cox's husband tweeted: “Feel a bit sick at Jo’s name being used in this way. The best way to honour Jo is for all of us (no matter our views) to stand up for what we believe in, passionately and with determination. But never to demonise the other side and always hold onto what we have in common.”

Labour MP Jess Phillips shared a death threat she had received this week.

A note, handed in to her constituency office, read: "It was rather prophetic that Boris Johnson should say: 'I would rather be found dead in a ditch'. That is what will happen to those who do not deliver Brexit."

Ms Phillips added: "I get death threats and still I stand up, I don't surrender to fear and aggression. I don't surrender to lowest common denominator of fear to votes. I don't surrender to bullies who call me names. It is not I who have surrendered it is Boris Johnson he has surrendered his dignity.

"I'm not scared of an election, I am scared I might be hurt or killed.

"Remember when Trump basked in the "send her back" chant. Tonight Boris Johnson basked in the pleasure that his words threaten our safety. What a loveable funny man he is with his funny scruffy hair and his wif waff."

Speaking on ITV's Peston following Mr Johnson's remarks about Mrs Cox, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley said the PM had "surrendered his morality".

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote on Twitter: “As of tonight, there’s a gaping moral vacuum where the office of Prime Minister used to be.

“I didn’t know Jo Cox but I’m certain this man is not fit to speak her name.”

Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-Right extremist in 2016
PA

Labour MP for Leeds West Rachel Reeves tweeted: "Appalled by the Prime Minister this evening. He breaks the law and uses dangerous language that stokes division and worse in our communities.

“Then he get applauded by his MPs for doing so. It is unworthy of the position of PM. Utterly depressing."

Paula Sherriff warned against using “violent” language and recalled murdered Labour MP Mrs Cox before highlighting that many MPs are subject to death threats and abuse.

The Labour MP for Dewsbury gestured to Mrs Cox's shield on the wall of the chamber as she made her appeal in the Commons on Wednesday night.

Labour's Paula Sheriff calls for the PM to curb his "violent" language
AFP/Getty Images

But Mr Johnson labelled her remarks "humbug", which prompted an angry response in the chamber - with shouts of "shame" emerging.

Speaking in the Commons, Ms Sherriff said the PM had "continually used pejorative language to describe an Act of Parliament passed by this House".

She added: "We should not resort to using offensive, dangerous or inflammatory language for legislation that we do not like and we stand here under the shield of our departed friend with many of us in this place subject to death threats and abuse every single day.

"And let me tell the Prime Minister that they often quote his words Surrender Act, betrayal, traitor and I for one am sick of it. We must moderate our language and it has to come from the Prime Minister first."

She added: "He should be absolutely ashamed of himself." Her words prompted applause from the opposition benches.

Mr Johnson said: "I have to say Mr Speaker I've never heard such humbug in all my life."

As the PM was heckled, Speaker John Bercow intervened to say: "I appeal to the House as a whole to debate these issues calmly."

Mr Johnson was later urged to clarify his remarks he made about Mrs Cox.

Labour MP Rosie Duffield (Canterbury) asked Mr Johnson to "fully and clearly to the House and to the nation exactly how getting on with Brexit is honouring our beloved colleague and sister Jo Cox given that she was violently killed while campaigning with her young family to remain in the EU?"

Mr Johnson replied: "I can, I think, to explain exactly what I mean because I believe that the continuing failure to deliver on the mandate of the people greatly exacerbated feelings and the best way to reduce that tension is, as I say, to get it done and then the whole country can move on."

Earlier, Tory MP Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) said: "With freedom of speech, on which we both fully agree, comes responsibility.

"And some times that responsibility means not saying what one maybe would like to say, words like 'surrender' words like 'betrayal' words like 'treason'."

Mr Johnson replied: "As for some of the language that he ascribed to me, I don't think I've ever used those words and I would be happy to clarify that for him."

As the debate over language continued, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for the Speaker to "call together the leaders of all parties in this House to issue a joint declaration opposing any form of abusive language or threats and to put this message out to our entire community that we have to treat each other with respect".

He added: "If we don't, then what happens is those on our streets who would do violence feel emboldened to do it and the most vulnerable people in our society suffer as a result of it."

Mr Bercow said he was "very open to convening a meeting of senior colleagues for the purpose of a House-wide public statement".

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