{"id":8218,"date":"2019-09-28T21:45:23","date_gmt":"2019-09-29T04:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=8218"},"modified":"2019-09-30T21:38:09","modified_gmt":"2019-10-01T04:38:09","slug":"post2-63","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=8218","title":{"rendered":"\u201cTo honour Jo Cox\u2019s memory, we need new standards of behaviour\u201d, The Observer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kim Leadbeater and Catherine Anderson, London, September 28, 2019<\/p>\n

The murdered MP\u2019s sister and the CEO of the Jo Cox Foundation respond to parliament\u2019s week of toxic language<\/em><\/p>\n

W<\/span><\/span>e cannot go on like this. The poison and intolerance that has infected our national political debate has to be excised. If we cannot find a way to restore some respect and responsibility to our politics the implications will be serious, not just for those in and around Westminster but for all of us.<\/p>\n

MPs know this. From all sides last week we have been reminded how much distress and harm ill-chosen words can inflict. Not just to those in the thick of the debate, but to their families, their staff and volunteers.<\/p>\n

Leavers and Remainers, left, right and centre, nobody is immune from the threat of violence and intimidation. The attempted attack <\/a>on Jess Phillips\u2019s office is just the latest reminder that these threats are very real. Inflammatory language can lead to calamitous, if unintended, consequences.<\/p>\n

We know this only too well. The Jo Cox Foundation<\/a> would not exist but for a horrific act of political violence<\/a>resulting in the murder of a decent, dedicated, compassionate MP. We have lost count of how many of those who sat alongside or opposite her who tell us of their fear that further acts of political violence will follow.<\/p>\n

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It is time for all parties at Westminster to act. We urgently need a new standard of conduct, agreed by every party leader on behalf of their candidates and their members. We need it in place before we go to the polls. Time is short, but delay would be unforgivable.<\/p>\n

It is not for us at the Jo Cox<\/a> Foundation to pass judgment on the tactics employed by either the government or its opponents. Nor would we wish to stifle vigorous political debate. We unequivocally defend everyone\u2019s right to hold and to air differing views and strongly held opinions. But we do have a clear duty to remind everyone of the risks of fuelling extremism if people begin to lose faith in the democratic process. We can and must debate our differences passionately \u2013 as Jo did \u2013 but not at the price of legitimising violence.<\/p>\n