This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/23/brendan-cox-urges-people-to-fight-rise-of-hatred-in-alternative-christmas-speech
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Brendan Cox urges people to fight rise of hatred in alternative Christmas speech Brendan Cox urges people to fight rise of hatred in alternative Christmas speech | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox, is to warn of the creeping tides of fascism and xenophobia as he urges people to be more tolerant of each other’s opinions in this year’s alternative Christmas message. | Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox, is to warn of the creeping tides of fascism and xenophobia as he urges people to be more tolerant of each other’s opinions in this year’s alternative Christmas message. |
| The message, to be broadcast on Channel 4 on 25 December, will see Cox touch on the “awful year” for his family and pay tribute to his wife, who was repeatedly shot and stabbed by the far-right terrorist Thomas Mair in June. | The message, to be broadcast on Channel 4 on 25 December, will see Cox touch on the “awful year” for his family and pay tribute to his wife, who was repeatedly shot and stabbed by the far-right terrorist Thomas Mair in June. |
| Jo, 41, a mother of two young children, was an outspoken critic of strategic policy in Syria, as well as a humanitarian who campaigned for women’s rights around the world. Her murder during the EU referendum campaign sparked a debate over the increasing toxicity of the language that was being used in the campaign. | Jo, 41, a mother of two young children, was an outspoken critic of strategic policy in Syria, as well as a humanitarian who campaigned for women’s rights around the world. Her murder during the EU referendum campaign sparked a debate over the increasing toxicity of the language that was being used in the campaign. |
| In the message, which is billed as an alternative to the Queen’s annual Christmas Day address, her husband of seven years will say: “Jo loved Christmas, the games, the traditions, the coming together of friends and family and above all the excitement of our kids. | In the message, which is billed as an alternative to the Queen’s annual Christmas Day address, her husband of seven years will say: “Jo loved Christmas, the games, the traditions, the coming together of friends and family and above all the excitement of our kids. |
| “This year we’ll try to remember how lucky we were to have Jo in our lives for so long – and not how unlucky we were to have her taken from us. 2016 has been an awful year for our family, and it’s been a divisive one for the wider world.” | “This year we’ll try to remember how lucky we were to have Jo in our lives for so long – and not how unlucky we were to have her taken from us. 2016 has been an awful year for our family, and it’s been a divisive one for the wider world.” |
| Cox will say that “fascism, xenophobia, extremism and terrorism” had made the world more divided and that “these trends could threaten the fundamental freedoms, and democracy that our grandparents fought for”. | Cox will say that “fascism, xenophobia, extremism and terrorism” had made the world more divided and that “these trends could threaten the fundamental freedoms, and democracy that our grandparents fought for”. |
| He will add, however, that another future is possible. “Just as it has become apparent that tolerance and tolerant societies are only as strong as their defenders – there is nothing inevitable about the rise of hatred,” he will say. “Instead of being a turning point for the worse, 2016 could be a wake-up call that brings us back together.” | He will add, however, that another future is possible. “Just as it has become apparent that tolerance and tolerant societies are only as strong as their defenders – there is nothing inevitable about the rise of hatred,” he will say. “Instead of being a turning point for the worse, 2016 could be a wake-up call that brings us back together.” |
| Cox recorded the tribute to his late wife on the converted Dutch barge which the family called home. He will say that just a few weeks before she died, Jo had quoted Edmund Burke, who said that all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing. “That has never been more true,” he will say, adding that the need to defend tolerance and fair play “isn’t someone else’s problem”. | Cox recorded the tribute to his late wife on the converted Dutch barge which the family called home. He will say that just a few weeks before she died, Jo had quoted Edmund Burke, who said that all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing. “That has never been more true,” he will say, adding that the need to defend tolerance and fair play “isn’t someone else’s problem”. |
| Cox’s message comes after the Prince of Wales warned that the rise of populist extremism and intolerance towards other faiths risks repeating the “horrors” of the Holocaust. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s religious Thought for the Day slot on Thursday, the prince delivered an outspoken attack against religious hatred and pleaded for a welcoming attitude to those fleeing persecution. | Cox’s message comes after the Prince of Wales warned that the rise of populist extremism and intolerance towards other faiths risks repeating the “horrors” of the Holocaust. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s religious Thought for the Day slot on Thursday, the prince delivered an outspoken attack against religious hatred and pleaded for a welcoming attitude to those fleeing persecution. |
| The Channel 4 Christmas Day message has been broadcast since 1993. Past speakers include the whistleblower Edward Snowden, the parents of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, campaigner Katie Piper and reality star Sharon Osbourne. | The Channel 4 Christmas Day message has been broadcast since 1993. Past speakers include the whistleblower Edward Snowden, the parents of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, campaigner Katie Piper and reality star Sharon Osbourne. |
| Cox was himself accused of having links to extremism this week by Nigel Farage because of his support for the group Hope Not Hate, a campaigning charity that seeks to combat political militancy, especially from far-right groups. | Cox was himself accused of having links to extremism this week by Nigel Farage because of his support for the group Hope Not Hate, a campaigning charity that seeks to combat political militancy, especially from far-right groups. |
| The dispute began after Farage, the former Ukip leader and vocal campaigner for Britain to leave the EU, sent a tweet blaming the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, over the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, in which at least 12 people died. Cox replied by accusing Farage of blaming politicians for the actions of extremists, adding: “That’s a slippery slope Nigel.” | The dispute began after Farage, the former Ukip leader and vocal campaigner for Britain to leave the EU, sent a tweet blaming the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, over the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, in which at least 12 people died. Cox replied by accusing Farage of blaming politicians for the actions of extremists, adding: “That’s a slippery slope Nigel.” |
| Asked during a radio appearance about the exchange shortly afterwards, Farage suggested that Cox “would know more about extremists than me” because of his connection to Hope Not Hate, thereby sparking a flurry of condemnation from politicians and commentators, as well as the threat of legal action by the charity unless Farage rescinded his comments and apologised. | Asked during a radio appearance about the exchange shortly afterwards, Farage suggested that Cox “would know more about extremists than me” because of his connection to Hope Not Hate, thereby sparking a flurry of condemnation from politicians and commentators, as well as the threat of legal action by the charity unless Farage rescinded his comments and apologised. |