Kim Leadbeater MP's words are a stark reminder that the toxic state of British politics shows no signs of abating ten years on from the devastating murder of her sister, Jo Cox. As she candidly admits, "Sadly and regrettably, over the last decade things are worse." The fleeting moment of cross-party unity that followed Jo Cox's death in 2016 – with then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn advocating for a "kinder and gentler politics" and then-Prime Minister David Cameron urging the nation to "drive out" intolerance – has given way to increasingly divisive rhetoric.
The June 2016 murder of Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen and devoted mother, shocked the nation. Her killing outside a library in West Yorkshire sparked an unprecedented show of unity from across the political spectrum, with politicians from all parties coming together to mourn her loss. However, this consensus was short-lived.
Academics such as Rob Ford, Professor of Political Science at Manchester University, suggest that the aspiration for a 'kinder, gentler politics' was always an elusive goal. He argues that Brexit accelerated rather than created the deeper populist forces driving the shift from class and economic-based politics to those centred on identity and values.
The intervening years have seen further disturbing developments. The 2021 murder of Conservative MP David Amess by an Islamic State sympathiser highlighted the ongoing threats faced by elected representatives. Furthermore, a teacher in Ms Cox's former constituency went into hiding after showing pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed, while protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers and overtly nationalistic displays have become increasingly prevalent.
Professor Ford attributes the hardening of public discourse to the role of social media in amplifying outrage. Digital platforms, he argues, have empowered "political entrepreneurs" who capitalise on anger rather than hope, creating a volatile online environment for politicians to navigate.
Labour MP Diane Abbott has spoken out about her own experiences with abusive and racist communications online, describing it as a "tidal wave of abuse." This backdrop highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding the safety and well-being of elected representatives in today's toxic political climate.