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| Jo Cox MP |
While her loss to politics is considerable, it is nothing compared to the chasm that must be felt within her family.
And yet, to read the usual suspects amongst social and political commentators, you could be forgiven for thinking that some are expressing their revulsion with a dusting of opportunism, similar to that which was seized upon by the racist and anti-Muslim political right.
When I wrote about the dangers of rushing to judgement on the reasons behind tragedies such as Orlando and the call for action based on incomplete evidence, I had not anticipated seeing the same “mistakes” being made by different characters.
The man accused of shooting and stabbing Ms Cox to death is said to be a right-wing political activist. And this, apparently, has implications for the EU referendum.
Writers have jumped through hoops to portray the actions of one man as being representative of the Brexit movement as a whole – with all of the right-wing Brexiters held at least partially liable – and some on the Remain side, too.
But jumping to conclusions through anecdotal evidence fails every logical test. The only irrefutable fact we have is that Ms Cox was brutally killed.
On this basis, Polly Toynbee has called out Britain's growing derision for its politcal class. Of course, the Blairite Toynbee has been one of that elite's most staunch defenders, denigrating those such as Jeremy Corbyn who just might seek to reform it.
The ever-present Owen Jones, who sticks his oar in when there is a publicity angle to a tragedy with the monotonous regularity of a professional mourner, has, in his usual ill-thought-out style, decided that we must make immediate inferences as to what led Ms Cox's killer to act.
In doing so, Jones appears oblivious to the lengths he and others have gone to in order to stop people using that very train of thought to blame Islam for the Pulse nightclub shootings. This is no time for humour but Jones nevertheless indulges in self-pardoy, to which we must presume he is oblivious.
But, of course, we should not forget the right's opportunism, either, especially that relentless bastard Nick Griffin, who indulged in his trademark crassness to warn against politicising a death because he had got there first.
All this would merely be distasteful, were it not for the fact that these reactions themselves represent a threat to democracy.
Much of the EU debate has been digusting with both sides using xenophobia in order to scare people against voting according to their instincts.
But it is wrong to blame the democratic process itself for the actions of one man, as author Robert Harris was quick to do.
And the death of one MP, however fine a person she assuredly was, should not suddenly mean that the political class that has served Britain so poorly since 1979, at least, should suddenly be revered.
Of course, no-one should be subjected to abuse, threats or violence, including MPs. But neither should the foul actions of one man stop us from demanding that our democratic voices be heard or holding self-serving Mps – making themselves, banks and corporations rich, while reducing assistance to the poor and vulnerable – to account.
If Ms Cox's killing was indeed symbolic of an attack on democracy, the response must be that debate and accountability will continue, in a more dignified way, but as strongly as ever.
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