Boris Johnson refuses to apologise over Jo Cox Brexit comments

Boris Johnson has rejected calls to apologise after he said the best way of honouring murdered Labour MP Jo Cox would be to “get Brexit done”.

The Prime Minister’s words sparked a widespread backlash, with Mrs Cox’s widow Brendan saying they made him feel “a bit sick”.

A No10 spokesman defended the remarks, saying: “The PM obviously made the broader point last night that he believes we need to get the issue of Brexit resolved because it was causing anxiety and ill-feeling in the country.”

Asked if the Mr Johnson’s comments risked fuelling aggression towards ministers, the spokesman said: “The PM is very clear that whatever their views no MPs or anyone else in public life should face threats or intimidation. 

“It’s completely unacceptable.”

Mr Johnson made the controversial remark in the Commons last night, as ministers returned to the benches after the Government’s failed prorogation of Parliament.

It led to calls for Mr Johnson to apologise from MPs including Ed Miliband and Jess Phillips.

Former Labour leader Mr Miliband said he had “never seen a performance like we saw last night” and called the PM’s comments a “disgrace.”

Addressing the Commons on Thursday, he said: “Everyone in this house shares the frustration from the last three and a half years. But none of us can agree that the safety of members of this house should depend on the way they voted in this house.

“It is a disgrace that the PM said this yesterday and he should apologise.”

He added: “The PM has a special responsibility, he is not exercising this responsibility.”

Earlier, speaking through an urgent question in the Commons, fellow Labour MP Ms Phillips said: “The use of language yesterday and over the past few weeks such as the surrender bill, such as invoking the war, such as betrayal and treachery, it has clearly been tested, and work-shopped and worked up and entirely designed to inflame hatred and division.

“I get it, it works, it is working.”

She continued: “It is not sincere, it is totally planned, it is completely and utterly a strategy designed by somebody to harm and cause hatred in our country.

“When I hear of my friend Jo Cox’s murder and the way that it has made me and my colleagues feel, and feel scared, described as humbug, I actually don’t feel anger towards the Prime Minister, I feel pity for those of you who have to toe his line.

“The people opposite me know how appalling it was to describe the murder of my friend as mere humbug.

“I want to ask the Prime Minister to apologise and to tell him that the bravest, strongest thing to say is sorry – it will make him look good, it will not upset the people who want Brexit in this country if he acts for once like a statesman.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn added that it was “extremely disappointing” the prime minister has not come to answer the question, describing the language as “nothing short of disgraceful”.

He added: “The language that politicians use matters and has real consequences.”

Labour MP Tracy Brabin, who took over as head of Mrs Cox’s Batley and Spen seat following her death, confronted the PM over his alleged use of inflammatory language in the chamber on Wednesday. 

She said: “As the woman who has taken over a seat left by our dear friend Jo Cox, can I ask him in all honesty as a human being please, please will he going forward moderate his language so that we will all feel secure when we’re going about our jobs.”

Mr Johnson replied: “What I will say is that the best way to honour the memory of Jo Cox and indeed the best to bring this country together would be, I think, to get Brexit done.”

His words were met with gasps through the Commons, with Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson among those to brand the PM a “disgrace” over his response.

As news of the exchange rippled across social media, Mrs Cox’s widow Brendan tweeted: “Feel a bit sick at Jo’s name being used in this way. 

“The best way to honour Jo is for all of us (no matter our views) to stand up for what we believe in, passionately and with determination. But never to demonise the other side and always hold onto what we have in common.”

Mrs Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater later told the BBC that the comments had made her “uncomfortable” but she hoped Mr Johnson had since had an opportunity to “reflect on those comments”.