‘Keep your GOB SHUT!’ Jo Cox’s sister urges MPS to STOP ‘threatening’ language
JO COX’s sister, Kim Leadbeater, has urged politicians to lower the political rhetoric and stop using violent, angry and threatening language after pipe bombs were sent to high-profile US figures.
Jo Cox’s sister urges MPs to ‘keep your gob shut’
Speaking on BBC Newsnight, Ms Leadbeater said “we are in a worse place than we were” before the death of her sister in June 2016.
Ms Leadbeater said: "We have an expression in Yorkshire - if you haven't got anything good to say keep your gob shut.
“If you haven’t got anything to say that is going to enhance the debate or move things forward in a positive manner, maybe don’t say anything.”
Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed multiple times in Birstall, West Yorkshire by a far-right extremist while visiting her constituency.
Thomas Mair was found guilty of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ms Leadbeater, the co-founder of the Jo Cox foundation, urged politicians to lower the political rhetoric.
She said: “There was a real sense when Jo was murdered across the political spectrum that things needed to change.
“There was a huge sense of shock and dismay among politicians and the country as a whole.
“There was a moment there when things would change.
“But sadly and tragically we are in a worse place than what we were.”
Ms Leadbeater’s comments come after pipe bombs were sent to numerous locations in New York, the Washington DC area and Florida on Wednesday.
Explosive devices were sent to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, former CIA director John Brennan, former Attorney General Eric Holder and California Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
On Monday, billionaire financier George Soros was also sent a suspected bomb.
All of the people who were targeted are regularly criticised by conservatives and Donald Trump.
Mrs Clinton thanked the Secret Service and said she and her family "are fine".
"It is a troubling time," she said.
"It is a time of deep divisions and we have to do everything we can to bring our country together.
“We also have to elect candidates who will try to do the same."
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders condemned the "attempted violent attacks" against the public figures.