We should think of Jo at the ballot box

I am horrified at the murder of Jo Cox, in awe of her achievements, and grieve for the painful loss her children and husband have to always endure.

I am concerned, desperately fearful, of the state of our politics.

I hope that maybe you will look at the links and perhaps, whatever your political allegiance or view on the referendum, register in some way, a stand for love and hope, for decent politics, for constitutional democracy.

www.gofundme.com/jocox

thanks,

I thought we had declared a suspension of Referendum posts in line with the moratorium on campaigning

Of course it should make us reflect, all of us, about the state of our politics. Of course there are decent people who look at the evidence, look at their values and take different views. But this has not been a rational evidence and information based debate, or courteous respecting honest hearts and mind debate. In this Stephen has been transparently sincere. His sincerity should be welcome, it is in scarce enough supply in our media or politicians. Whatever your vote, we have a morale duty to look at the kind of society we want our grandchildren to grow up in, the the values and the integrity of those to whom influence and power is being given.

Labour MP’s anger as Jo Cox murder used for political capital in EU referendum debate

A SENIOR Labour MP has hit out at Remain campaigners who have seized on the murder of her friend Jo Cox to try to tarnish millions of Brexit supporters.
But the appeals of Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves seemed to fall on deaf ears yesterday as senior figures in Europe, the Remain campaign and pro-EU sections of the British media tried to capitalise on the appalling events.

Ms Reeves was in tears as she attended a vigil to her friend and fellow Yorkshire MP in the parish church at Birstall where the murder took place.

And she appealed for her fellow Remain campaigners to not link the death to the EU referendum debate.

Stephen Kinnock is understandably extremely upset, he shared an office with Jo Cox too, so she was a friend as well as a close colleague.

I have not stopped thinking about this young woman and her family since it happened. She was the same age as my DD and the thought of losing a daughter in this horrific way is beyond comprehension.
The country has lost a principled and dedicated politician, the world has lost a compassionate young woman, her family has lost everything.

I haven't voted yet, have not finally decided yet but this will not affect my decision. To say that anyone would be of the same mindset of these thugs if they vote Brexit is truly insulting. My reason would be that we can forge even closer links with the Commonwealth and look out globally instead of to just the (possibly?) dying duck that is the EU. That certainly does not make me racist.
It is like saying anyone who has leftwing tendencies has the same mindset as those anarchists who wish to destroy our democracy.

Sometimes I think some posters post rather extreme comments, to make sure they get a reaction and keep the conversation flowing.

They often keep on posting on some threads long after, and sometimes days after others who may think differently have left.

I agree Devorgrilla,

I was intrigued by the thread title . I stay out of the political threads usually as they get a little too 'lively' for my taste but this piqued my interest.

I WILL be thinking of Jo at the ballot box.

Not for her politics or for whether I'm voting in or out.

I'll be thinking how she and people like her who went before made it possible for me to have a say in things affecting my country. I'll be thinking I'm grateful for her service, I'll be thinking about her family and friends.

Her death will not influence my vote ,but that doesn't mean I wont be thinking about her.

I think he probably meant, in all sincerity, that this vote is the most important one for his generation and future ones and we should consider such incidents in the light of which set of people are best placed to deliver a society that will ensure that it is less likely to happen again. It will happen again, but we need a society where it is a rarity rather than an everyday occurrence such as happens elsewhere.
Perhaps we should also all pause to consider the tweet Billy Bragg posted yesterday - that not every Leave voter is a racist, but every racist will vote Leave. People will vote Leave or Remain for all sorts of reasons and have a right in our society so to do.

Yes, we should think of her, not because of his view, but to remind us to have the courage to vote for what WE think is the best way forward - whether we agreed with her or disagreed, we all have a vote.

Many people have died or suffered so that we can use that vote wisely, after considering all the alternatives and their effects. They did not achieve this so that we all voted the same way.

You know this is true practical or is it just your opinion?

Anya and rosesarered I admire both of you for your sense of decency well In fact for your sense as well.
On Jo's thread you fought a battle to try to stop it being a disrespectful slanging match but were outnumbered.
On this thread the only thing Kinnock gave his speech for was because he was sad at losing a fortune from his trough of cash that's why he sacked the solicitor who wouldn't sign off the corrupt eu accounts.

Anya,you may not be reading this,but thank you for putting my thoughts into words,I wouldn't have been able to do it so cleverly.

If Stephen Kinnock thinks that he can emotionall blackmail the British public, it could work against the remain voters. The British public will see right through it.

On Facebook a friend of a friend was being applauded for saying that those planning to vote out should share some blame for Jo Cox's death, as they have contributed to the mindset that brought it about.

Utter nonsense, as is this suggestion.

" if Brexit win she died for nothing" - I cannot understand that statement at all. She has died for nothing - full stop. She has died because a misguided/probably mentally ill man has committed an atrocity.

It has nothing whatesoever to do with how people might vote and Stephen Kinnock is out of order. If he is remotely suggesting that those who favour Brexit are fascists then he is trying to sway the vote for the wrong reasons. There are many people in favour of LEAVE who have not made that decision on the basis of the immigration issue, but because of many other things.

The idea that those in favour of LEAVE have some problem with their fellow Europeans and are little Englanders is a distorted simplification.

I guess he can be forgiven as he is grieving for a friend; but his comments are out of order and unacceptable.

I was accused of being anti semetic because if comments made by two politicians , surely the same can now be said of Brexit supporters ? No difference

thatbags nailed it. It's just silly.

If he really thinks people who don't think like Jo on the EU are not as nice people as those who do, even when he is not suffering grief, then he's a twit in that regard.

Besides which, one can agree with her about refugees and still vote for Brexit.

I wouldn't call it distasteful. I just don't agree that thinking about Jo Cox is relevant. There are good people and bad people on both sides. Agreeing with Jo Cox's views does not make you a good person; neither does disagreeing with them. Nor does either agreeing or disagreeing make anyone a bad person.

So I think I'd call it a bit silly rather than distasteful. But, we can all be a bit silly when in the grip of deep emotion. So... shrug and ignore.

Oh yeah, and people are allowed to say things that others think distasteful anyway. More shrugs.

I too don't like the inference that if I should choose to vote one way that makes me of the same mindset of an extremist group - it would not. I have no allegiances to any political group and will vote for what I personally think is right. Please let's not turn this poor woman's murder into political infighting.

I cannot apologise to those who have taken offence. I am sorry thry are troubled but I am only expressing my opinions , my views on Brexit supporters are no different to the views her who accused all members of the Labour Party of being anti Semitic , do I am just following your way if thinking , birds if a feather etc

You always say what you think Anya why on earth should this post be treated differently ? Does it trouble you perhaps!

I agree with all that Anya has just written, and I will be off this thread too.Disgusting remarks by you annie.

I agree , the appeal from Stephen Kinnock was distasteful. Taking it one step further I suggest that as a politician he knew exactly what he was doing.