In this period of self-imposed political purdah, it is very disappointing that so many in the Remain campaign, especially those on the Left, have sought to exploit Jo Cox’s death for their advantage.
It is morally reprehensible that they think they know the motives of the alleged killer, who, by all accounts, has a long history of mental instability. To score cheap points against the Brexit campaign is a very ugly form of political opportunism.
Equally, we must deny the killer any bitter and twisted sense of achievement from his act. That is why the referendum should go ahead and not be postponed, as some are urging.
After a weekend of reflection and mourning, it is only right that the EU debate should resume. It must be conducted without scare-mongering or personal abuse...
PETER OBORNE: This is NOT the time for ugly political opportunism
By Peter Oborne For The Daily Mail
18 June 2016
Public trust in politics has been declining for decades. All the statistics show this. Turnout at general elections has fallen. Membership of political parties has collapsed. The reputation of politicians themselves is at rock bottom.
One of the main reasons for this was the convergence (until the Left-wing Corbynite capture of Labour) between the main parties. To many, there seemed no real difference — whether on domestic or foreign policy — between Tony Blair’s Labour and David Cameron’s Tories.
This aggregation of political opinion in the soggy centre ground sent a message to many that Westminster offered them nothing imaginative that could change lives for the better.
On Thursday, campaigning for the referendum was stopped following the killing of Jo Cox MP, and rightly so
The EU made the problem much worse. This is because the remorseless concentration of powers in Brussels has made British democracy increasingly meaningless. Thanks to the EU, British politicians are now powerless to deal with many of the most important issues affecting the lives of voters.
For example, MPs could only watch impotently as our fishing industry was sabotaged.
Similarly, European freedom of movement rules have meant that they have been unable to stop mass migration, which has had such a profound economic and social effect on so many communities in Britain.
By neutering British politicians, the increasingly omnipotent EU has made them look like hypocrites. More worryingly, democracy itself has been brought into disrepute.
Yet I believe the referendum campaign has been one of the great democratic events of Britain’s postwar history.
Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed a popular insurrection against the smug, self-interested cross-party rule that has sucked the life out of British politics for the past quarter-century.
There’s no denying that it has been a rancorous affair. Both sides have told lies and made terrible errors of taste and judgment. But ultimately these are just noise and froth.
It is very disappointing that so many in the Remain campaign, especially those on the Left, have sought to exploit Jo Cox’s death for their advantage, says Peter Oborne (above)
The EU referendum has offered the British people a real choice about their future. And they, in turn, have become passionately involved in the issues that have been raised.
Then, on Thursday, campaigning was stopped following the killing of Jo Cox MP, and rightly so.
In a tragically brief Westminster career, this remarkable, young and gifted politician had established a reputation for dedication and integrity. She represented the finest tradition of British politics as a public service — a means to improve life for her constituents, her country and her world.
Of course, we must not forget that two young children have lost their mother and a husband has lost his wife. It is awful that her noble commitment to public duty has been cut short in such an appalling way.
It is essential that we learn the lessons from what happened. This will take time, and nobody could — or should — try to reach a conclusion until the killer comes to court.
Jo Cox, 41, pictured with her children in a touching image tweeted by her husband, had only been an MP since May 2015's general election
That is why, in this period of self-imposed political purdah, it is very disappointing that so many in the Remain campaign, especially those on the Left, have sought to exploit Jo Cox’s death for their advantage.
It is morally reprehensible that they think they know the motives of the alleged killer, who, by all accounts, has a long history of mental instability. To score cheap points against the Brexit campaign is a very ugly form of political opportunism.
Equally, we must deny the killer any bitter and twisted sense of achievement from his act. That is why the referendum should go ahead and not be postponed, as some are urging.
After a weekend of reflection and mourning, it is only right that the EU debate should resume. It must be conducted without scare-mongering or personal abuse.
The nation should be free to listen to the closing arguments for and against remaining in the EU and then make the greatest decision it has faced since World War II. This is the correct way to proceed.
Jo Cox believed profoundly in the power of democracy and in the ability of the people’s representatives, like her, to fight for the causes they believe in.
In a tragically brief Westminster career, this remarkable, young and gifted politician had established a reputation for dedication and integrity
The best way of honouring her is to continue that rigorous debate.
That said, I believe it is appropriate to make one special gesture in her memory. Since there will now be a by-election in her constituency, all rival parties should agree not to field a candidate to run against Jo Cox’s Labour successor. To their credit, the Conservatives have already accepted this.
Then, all the major parties should donate the money they would have spent on campaigning in that by-election towards a fund established in her name.
More importantly, they must not use the killing of this magnificent politician, wife and mother as a political weapon.
British politics — as Jo Cox’s tragically short life has proved — should be so much better than that.
EU ARREST LAWS INSULT JUSTICE
This week, I spoke at a press conference to publicise the plight of Alexander Adamescu, the London-resident son of a Romanian newspaper owner who is being pursued by his own government for what look like ugly political motives.
He is accused, in what I believe are trumped-up charges, of bribing judges presiding over cases involving his family’s firms.
I fear he will not get a fair trial in Romania, where a notoriously corrupt government is intent on eliminating all domestic opposition — and, in his case, getting its hands on his father’s assets.
What is worse, as a result of EU rules, Britain has no choice but to hand Mr Adamescu over to the Romanian authorities — as I witnessed on Monday.
Using the controversial European Arrest Warrant (designed to speed up the extradition process for EU citizens who have fled one country and are wanted for criminal proceedings in another), a British police officer arrested Mr Adamescu two hours before our press conference was due to begin. I don’t blame our police, who had no choice under European law.
However, it is grotesque that the British system of justice is suborned to help a corrupt government persecute someone who stands a negligible chance of a fair trial when he gets home.
The European Arrest Warrant system is a small but telling example of why British membership of the EU is not working properly.
It wrongly assumes that the rule of law prevails in all 28 member countries — which it most certainly does not. It is an unjust system and another reason why British people would be wise to vote Leave.
It is morally reprehensible that they think they know the motives of the alleged killer, who, by all accounts, has a long history of mental instability. To score cheap points against the Brexit campaign is a very ugly form of political opportunism.
Equally, we must deny the killer any bitter and twisted sense of achievement from his act. That is why the referendum should go ahead and not be postponed, as some are urging.
After a weekend of reflection and mourning, it is only right that the EU debate should resume. It must be conducted without scare-mongering or personal abuse...
PETER OBORNE: This is NOT the time for ugly political opportunism
By Peter Oborne For The Daily Mail
18 June 2016
Public trust in politics has been declining for decades. All the statistics show this. Turnout at general elections has fallen. Membership of political parties has collapsed. The reputation of politicians themselves is at rock bottom.
One of the main reasons for this was the convergence (until the Left-wing Corbynite capture of Labour) between the main parties. To many, there seemed no real difference — whether on domestic or foreign policy — between Tony Blair’s Labour and David Cameron’s Tories.
This aggregation of political opinion in the soggy centre ground sent a message to many that Westminster offered them nothing imaginative that could change lives for the better.
On Thursday, campaigning for the referendum was stopped following the killing of Jo Cox MP, and rightly so
The EU made the problem much worse. This is because the remorseless concentration of powers in Brussels has made British democracy increasingly meaningless. Thanks to the EU, British politicians are now powerless to deal with many of the most important issues affecting the lives of voters.
For example, MPs could only watch impotently as our fishing industry was sabotaged.
Similarly, European freedom of movement rules have meant that they have been unable to stop mass migration, which has had such a profound economic and social effect on so many communities in Britain.
By neutering British politicians, the increasingly omnipotent EU has made them look like hypocrites. More worryingly, democracy itself has been brought into disrepute.
Yet I believe the referendum campaign has been one of the great democratic events of Britain’s postwar history.
Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed a popular insurrection against the smug, self-interested cross-party rule that has sucked the life out of British politics for the past quarter-century.
There’s no denying that it has been a rancorous affair. Both sides have told lies and made terrible errors of taste and judgment. But ultimately these are just noise and froth.
It is very disappointing that so many in the Remain campaign, especially those on the Left, have sought to exploit Jo Cox’s death for their advantage, says Peter Oborne (above)
The EU referendum has offered the British people a real choice about their future. And they, in turn, have become passionately involved in the issues that have been raised.
Then, on Thursday, campaigning was stopped following the killing of Jo Cox MP, and rightly so.
In a tragically brief Westminster career, this remarkable, young and gifted politician had established a reputation for dedication and integrity. She represented the finest tradition of British politics as a public service — a means to improve life for her constituents, her country and her world.
Of course, we must not forget that two young children have lost their mother and a husband has lost his wife. It is awful that her noble commitment to public duty has been cut short in such an appalling way.
It is essential that we learn the lessons from what happened. This will take time, and nobody could — or should — try to reach a conclusion until the killer comes to court.
Jo Cox, 41, pictured with her children in a touching image tweeted by her husband, had only been an MP since May 2015's general election
That is why, in this period of self-imposed political purdah, it is very disappointing that so many in the Remain campaign, especially those on the Left, have sought to exploit Jo Cox’s death for their advantage.
It is morally reprehensible that they think they know the motives of the alleged killer, who, by all accounts, has a long history of mental instability. To score cheap points against the Brexit campaign is a very ugly form of political opportunism.
Equally, we must deny the killer any bitter and twisted sense of achievement from his act. That is why the referendum should go ahead and not be postponed, as some are urging.
After a weekend of reflection and mourning, it is only right that the EU debate should resume. It must be conducted without scare-mongering or personal abuse.
The nation should be free to listen to the closing arguments for and against remaining in the EU and then make the greatest decision it has faced since World War II. This is the correct way to proceed.
Jo Cox believed profoundly in the power of democracy and in the ability of the people’s representatives, like her, to fight for the causes they believe in.
In a tragically brief Westminster career, this remarkable, young and gifted politician had established a reputation for dedication and integrity
The best way of honouring her is to continue that rigorous debate.
That said, I believe it is appropriate to make one special gesture in her memory. Since there will now be a by-election in her constituency, all rival parties should agree not to field a candidate to run against Jo Cox’s Labour successor. To their credit, the Conservatives have already accepted this.
Then, all the major parties should donate the money they would have spent on campaigning in that by-election towards a fund established in her name.
More importantly, they must not use the killing of this magnificent politician, wife and mother as a political weapon.
British politics — as Jo Cox’s tragically short life has proved — should be so much better than that.
EU ARREST LAWS INSULT JUSTICE
This week, I spoke at a press conference to publicise the plight of Alexander Adamescu, the London-resident son of a Romanian newspaper owner who is being pursued by his own government for what look like ugly political motives.
He is accused, in what I believe are trumped-up charges, of bribing judges presiding over cases involving his family’s firms.
I fear he will not get a fair trial in Romania, where a notoriously corrupt government is intent on eliminating all domestic opposition — and, in his case, getting its hands on his father’s assets.
What is worse, as a result of EU rules, Britain has no choice but to hand Mr Adamescu over to the Romanian authorities — as I witnessed on Monday.
Using the controversial European Arrest Warrant (designed to speed up the extradition process for EU citizens who have fled one country and are wanted for criminal proceedings in another), a British police officer arrested Mr Adamescu two hours before our press conference was due to begin. I don’t blame our police, who had no choice under European law.
However, it is grotesque that the British system of justice is suborned to help a corrupt government persecute someone who stands a negligible chance of a fair trial when he gets home.
The European Arrest Warrant system is a small but telling example of why British membership of the EU is not working properly.
It wrongly assumes that the rule of law prevails in all 28 member countries — which it most certainly does not. It is an unjust system and another reason why British people would be wise to vote Leave.
