Evening Standard comment: We must all fight for Jo Cox’s democratic vision

The killing of Jo Cox MP yesterday should remind us not only that life is precious but that our democracy is too. For hatred and violence to have struck at its very foundation is deeply distressing but must not undermine our faith in it. Jo Cox herself was so obviously such a great believer in the power of politics that we would be doing her legacy a disservice if we took a contrary view.

Indeed, it has been noticeable that, among the very many tributes paid to Ms Cox, a common theme has been to note how effective she had been as a parliamentarian in the short time since her election last year. She was passionate about many causes, not least the plight of refugees in war-torn Syria — a subject she knew well from her previous role as head of humanitarian campaigning at Oxfam. She used her maiden speech in the House of Commons to praise the benefits to the United Kingdom of immigration. It is heartbreaking to hear the words she spoke on that occasion, when she expressed delighted surprise at finding across her constituency that local communities “are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us”.

It was this positive outlook that made Jo Cox such a popular MP among her constituents. Again, it has been notable that such a large number of local people in Batley and Spen have been so personal in their tributes to their MP. Hundreds gathered yesterday evening at a vigil in St Peter’s Church in Birstall where the Rev Paul Knight spoke of the community’s “anger, hurt and pain”.

Among politicians, too, there has complete unity in their responses. From all sides of the House there is agreement that Jo Cox was truly a rising star. There is also the deep shock that an elected representative should have been attacked in the course of fulfilling her public service. Yesterday’s tragedy will make all MPs nervous.

It may be 26 years since the last fatal assault on a serving MP — Ian Gow was murdered by a car bomb planted by the Provisional IRA — but there have been grave incidents since then. Most seriously, Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, was confronted and wounded by a woman carrying a kitchen knife in 2010. Research published by the Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology in January reported that of the 239 MPs who had responded to a survey, 190 had been victims of aggressive or intrusive behaviour at the hands of constituents. Those are desperately alarming statistics.

The police investigation will in due course give a fuller picture of how the attack on Jo Cox came about. That is naturally of great importance for her family, but it is vital too in terms of learning lessons about how the safety of MPs can be protected in the future.

Today, though, the fundamental message we are hearing from local residents, parliamentary colleagues and supporters oversees is the need to stand united in Jo Cox’s memory. It is a point made forcefully by Hillary Clinton, and by Labour MP Rachel Reeves, who expressed determination that “we can’t let the behaviour of one man destroy the link between MPs and their constituencies”.

Ms Reeves is right, of course. We are fortunate in this country that our elected representatives actually spend time meeting the residents who voted for them (and those who didn’t). It isn’t the same in other parts of the world and it is a vital element to our democratic process. And at a time when there is frequently much cynicism about the role of MPs, we should remember that for the most part they are open, honest, decent and do all they can to help others.

Yet of all the tributes, it was the one released by Jo Cox’s husband Brendan that was the most apt. In vowing to “work against the hate” that killed his wife, he described her belief in fighting for a “better world”. That is not something we should leave to men and women like Jo Cox — it is something we must all strive for.