So shocked to hear of the tragic death of Jo Cox . . . speechless somehow that this is what we have come to

My own posting on Facebook meant that I hadn't posted anything here so here it is as it happened

I had been struck yesterday by the cross party comments about Jo Cox and never expected to find myself moved by the words of Chris Grayling but yesterday it happened and I was surprised to hear his emotion and use of the word 'love' before the other more platitudinous speeches started, not including Jeremy Corbyn's which I was also much moved by and I somehow feel Conservative Andrew Mitchell's description of her from working with her on the All Party Parliamentary Working Group on Syria being ' a five foot bundle of Yorkshire grit and determination' was true. Never have I heard the word 'lovely' used so often for a politician. 

Can't bring myself to post any usual sillies or humour this morning but am reflecting how the temper and tenor, largely in the media, of the heated & divisive build up to a public political debate can engender hatred, ignorance and misunderstanding to the extent that someone, mentally ill or not, feels so tense, stressed and aggravated that they become violent and murderous, is a savage indictment as to where we are now

This . . . . . 

From Jeremy Corbyn's statement 

The whole of the Labour Party and Labour family - and indeed the whole country - will be in shock at the horrific murder of Jo Cox today.Jo Cox had a lifelong record of public service and a deep commitment to humanity. She worked both for Oxfam and the anti-slavery charity, the Freedom Fund, before she was elected last year as MP for Batley and Spen – where she was born and grew up.Jo was dedicated to getting us to live up to our promises to support the developing world and strengthen human rights – and she brought those values and principles with her when she became an MP.
Jo Cox died doing her public duty at the heart of our democracy, listening to and representing the people she was elected to serve. It is a profoundly important cause for us all.
Jo was universally liked at Westminster, not just by her Labour colleagues, but across parliament.
In the coming days, there will be questions to answer about how and why she died. But for now all our thoughts are with Jo’s husband Brendan and their two young children. They will grow up without their Mum, but can be immensely proud of what she did, what she achieved and what she stood for.
We send them our deepest condolences. We have lost a much loved colleague, a real talent and a dedicated campaigner for social justice and peace. But they have lost a wife and a mother, and our hearts go out to them.

I found this moving and intelligent

Jo Cox - The Spectator - A Day of Infamy

The thing that all violent people in the world will never understand is the necessity for humour to the rest of us! It IS the best medicine and I dedicate this to all the folk who know me and all of you dropping by   . . . . . . . 

Full Peter Kay CARSHARE Outakes with Reece Shearsmith and Co-writer Sian Gibson as Kayleigh