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Jo Cox tribute event held in Stornoway

 

21 June 2016  

Around 75 people attended a tribute event in Stornoway, in memory of murdered MP, Jo Cox.

The Labour politician was shot and stabbed while on her way to hold a constituency surgery in Bristall, near Leeds, on Thursday.

The mother of two, who would have been 42 on Wednesday, is the first serving MP to be killed since 1990.

The Stornoway event - organised by the local Labour Party - was attended by people of different political colours, and some of none.

First speaker, Isles MSP Alasdair Allan, said Mrs Cox was an "exceptional woman" and her killing struck at the heart of democracy where politicians are readily accessible to people.

Referring to a statement made by Mrs Cox's husband, Brendan, who had said she had been killed by "hatred," the MSP said hatred was "actively endorsed whenever we as individuals fail to confront it.”

Second speaker, former Labour MP Brain Wilson also spoke about an "atmosphere of hatred" which risked words being turned into deeds.

He criticised the "unacceptable abuse" published on social media by people hiding "under the cloak of anonymity."

Mr Wilson added people should not just remember, "but for each of us look at how we can ensure  that the democratic standards on which we all depend - and on which, however imperfect, our society and progress within our society depends - is defended.”

He said: "You can never legislate entirely against this kind of random event but you can make it much less likely that by ensuring democracy is defended, that freedom of speech is defended, and that freedom of speech or of action is not abused."