Boris Johnson condemned over Jo Cox comments
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been criticised for dismissing Labour MPs’ calls to moderate his language in light of the murder of MP Jo Cox – a request he described as “humbug” in the Commons last night.
Labour MP Paula Sherriff had asked Johnson to stop using language such as “betrayal”, “traitor”, and “surrender” when discussing Brexit during an emotional speech. The prime minster replied: “I have to say Mr Speaker I’ve never heard such humbug in all my life.”
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Johnson also told Labour’s Tracy Brabin that the best way to honour the memory of Cox – who was murdered outside a constituency surgery shortly before the EU referendum in 2016 – was to “get Brexit done”.
Brabin, who took over Cox’s seat after her death, called on Johnson to “moderate his language so that we will all feel secure when we’re going about our jobs”.
Brendan Cox, Jo’s Widower, this morning criticised the “sloppy language” used by Johnson. Cox said Johnson’s comments had “shocked” him, and condemned the “growing inferno of rhetoric” in Parliament during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“I’m sure on reflection, it’s something that he would probably wish he hadn’t said,” Cox added “I think it was sloppy language and the wrong thing to say, but I but I don’t think that he is an evil man.”
Cox said it was not “legitimate” to co-opt his wife’s memory or beliefs “for things she didn’t believe in”.
The prime minister has been roundly criticised by opposition parties over the remarks.
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson branded Johnson a “disgrace”, while shadow secretary for women and equalities Dawn Butler said the comments showed he was a “cruel, uncaring, and spoilt man”.
SNP first minister Nicola Sturgeon said she had felt “disgust” watching the proceedings, and accused Johnson of being “untrustworthy”.
Johnson has also been criticised by a member of his cabinet, culture secretary Nicky Morgan.
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“I know the PM is aware of & sympathetic about the threats far too many of us have received because I shared with him recently the threats I am getting. But at a time of strong feelings we all need to remind ourselves of the effect of everything we say on those watching us,” she tweeted.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, condemned the abuse received by MPs as “deeply unpleasant and troubling”, adding: “We all have a responsibility to be mild in our language when we’re speaking in this house or outside.”
Main image credit: Getty