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| Commons 'bear pit' condemned by Jo Cox's husband | Commons 'bear pit' condemned by Jo Cox's husband |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Brexit debate has descended into a "bear pit of polarisation", the husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox has said. | The Brexit debate has descended into a "bear pit of polarisation", the husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox has said. |
| Brendan Cox also said Boris Johnson was "sloppy" in saying the best way to honour the late MP was to get "Brexit done", but he was not "an evil man". | Brendan Cox also said Boris Johnson was "sloppy" in saying the best way to honour the late MP was to get "Brexit done", but he was not "an evil man". |
| The PM had angered many MPs by using words such as "surrender" but Tory Chairman James Cleverly said the accusations were "deeply unfair". | The PM had angered many MPs by using words such as "surrender" but Tory Chairman James Cleverly said the accusations were "deeply unfair". |
| Speaker John Bercow said the culture in the Commons had been "toxic". | Speaker John Bercow said the culture in the Commons had been "toxic". |
| He said passions were inflamed on both sides, the atmosphere had been "worse than any I've known" and urged MPs to "disagree agreeably". | He said passions were inflamed on both sides, the atmosphere had been "worse than any I've known" and urged MPs to "disagree agreeably". |
| A Downing Street spokesman has said that, whatever their views, politicians and those in public life "shouldn't face threats or intimidation... it's completely unacceptable". | A Downing Street spokesman has said that, whatever their views, politicians and those in public life "shouldn't face threats or intimidation... it's completely unacceptable". |
| In the House of Commons, Labour MP Jess Phillips asked an urgent question about the prime minister's language and his role in creating a safe environment in the country and in Parliament. She said the "bravest and strongest thing to do" would be for the PM to apologise. | In the House of Commons, Labour MP Jess Phillips asked an urgent question about the prime minister's language and his role in creating a safe environment in the country and in Parliament. She said the "bravest and strongest thing to do" would be for the PM to apologise. |
| Mr Johnson was greeted by cheers when he addressed Conservative MPs at a meeting of the backbench 1922 Committee. | |
| BBC political correspondent Chris Mason says Downing Street is not planning to shift away from using the term "surrender bill" in reference to the parliamentary act that seeks to block a no-deal Brexit. | BBC political correspondent Chris Mason says Downing Street is not planning to shift away from using the term "surrender bill" in reference to the parliamentary act that seeks to block a no-deal Brexit. |
| Meanwhile, the longest-serving male and female MPs, Ken Clarke and Harriet Harman, have called for an inquiry, chaired by Mr Bercow, to discuss "protecting our democracy by guaranteeing the ability of MPs to go about their work without threat, harassment, violence or intimidation". | Meanwhile, the longest-serving male and female MPs, Ken Clarke and Harriet Harman, have called for an inquiry, chaired by Mr Bercow, to discuss "protecting our democracy by guaranteeing the ability of MPs to go about their work without threat, harassment, violence or intimidation". |
| 'Great national controversy' | 'Great national controversy' |
| Wednesday's highly charged Commons debate came a day after the Supreme Court ruled Mr Johnson's suspension of Parliament unlawful. | Wednesday's highly charged Commons debate came a day after the Supreme Court ruled Mr Johnson's suspension of Parliament unlawful. |
| He was forced to cut short his visit to a UN summit in New York to return to the Commons following the decision. | He was forced to cut short his visit to a UN summit in New York to return to the Commons following the decision. |
| The prime minister told MPs the court had been "wrong to pronounce on a political question at a time of great national controversy". | The prime minister told MPs the court had been "wrong to pronounce on a political question at a time of great national controversy". |
| He also challenged opposition parties to table a vote of no confidence or back a general election and face a "day of reckoning" with voters. | He also challenged opposition parties to table a vote of no confidence or back a general election and face a "day of reckoning" with voters. |
| MPs will later discuss whether to approve a three-day break for the Commons next week while the Conservatives stage their annual party conference. | MPs will later discuss whether to approve a three-day break for the Commons next week while the Conservatives stage their annual party conference. |
| BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley said opposition parties would also be meeting to discuss their tactics for next week. | BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley said opposition parties would also be meeting to discuss their tactics for next week. |
| 'Inflammatory language' | 'Inflammatory language' |
| During an ill-tempered debate on Wednesday, the prime minister was repeatedly challenged by opposition MPs over his use of the word "surrender" to describe legislation passed earlier this month which aims to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October if he failed to come up with a new exit deal before 19 October. | During an ill-tempered debate on Wednesday, the prime minister was repeatedly challenged by opposition MPs over his use of the word "surrender" to describe legislation passed earlier this month which aims to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October if he failed to come up with a new exit deal before 19 October. |
| Labour MP Paula Sherriff referred to Ms Cox - who was killed by a right-wing extremist days before the EU referendum in 2016 - saying MPs faced death threats from people using similar language. | Labour MP Paula Sherriff referred to Ms Cox - who was killed by a right-wing extremist days before the EU referendum in 2016 - saying MPs faced death threats from people using similar language. |
| Pointing to a plaque in the chamber commemorating Ms Cox, Ms Sherriff said: "We should not resort to using offensive, dangerous or inflammatory language for legislation that we do not like, and we stand here under the shield of our departed friend with many of us in this place subject to death threats and abuse every single day. | Pointing to a plaque in the chamber commemorating Ms Cox, Ms Sherriff said: "We should not resort to using offensive, dangerous or inflammatory language for legislation that we do not like, and we stand here under the shield of our departed friend with many of us in this place subject to death threats and abuse every single day. |
| "They often quote his words 'Surrender Act', 'betrayal', 'traitor' and I for one am sick of it. | "They often quote his words 'Surrender Act', 'betrayal', 'traitor' and I for one am sick of it. |
| "We must moderate our language, and it has to come from the prime minister first." | "We must moderate our language, and it has to come from the prime minister first." |
| In response, Mr Johnson said: "I have to say, Mr Speaker, I've never heard such humbug in all my life." | In response, Mr Johnson said: "I have to say, Mr Speaker, I've never heard such humbug in all my life." |
| Labour's Tracy Brabin, who was elected as MP for Batley and Spen after Ms Cox's murder, also urged the prime minister to moderate his language "so that we will all feel secure when we're going about our jobs". | Labour's Tracy Brabin, who was elected as MP for Batley and Spen after Ms Cox's murder, also urged the prime minister to moderate his language "so that we will all feel secure when we're going about our jobs". |
| Mr Johnson replied that the best way to honour the memory of Ms Cox - who campaigned for Remain - and bring the country together was "to get Brexit done". | Mr Johnson replied that the best way to honour the memory of Ms Cox - who campaigned for Remain - and bring the country together was "to get Brexit done". |
| Mr Cox later tweeted he felt "sick at Jo's name being used in this way". | Mr Cox later tweeted he felt "sick at Jo's name being used in this way". |
| Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cox said "bad behaviour" was not limited to one side of the debate and said words such as "coup" and fascism" are also "inflammatory". | Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cox said "bad behaviour" was not limited to one side of the debate and said words such as "coup" and fascism" are also "inflammatory". |
| "This is something which has infected our politics and it's this vicious cycle where language gets more extreme, responses get more extreme, it all gets hyped up," he said. | "This is something which has infected our politics and it's this vicious cycle where language gets more extreme, responses get more extreme, it all gets hyped up," he said. |
| "And the reason that it matters is because it has real world consequences." | "And the reason that it matters is because it has real world consequences." |
| Asked about the use of words such as "coup", shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told Today that politicians "have been rude about each other since the days of Disraeli and Gladstone" referring to two Victorian prime ministers. | Asked about the use of words such as "coup", shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told Today that politicians "have been rude about each other since the days of Disraeli and Gladstone" referring to two Victorian prime ministers. |
| "We all have to consider our language," she said, but argued that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has never used violent language. | "We all have to consider our language," she said, but argued that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has never used violent language. |
| Conservative Party Chairman Mr Cleverly said the debate over Brexit in the House of Commons had generated "a huge amount of temper on both sides of the Commons". | Conservative Party Chairman Mr Cleverly said the debate over Brexit in the House of Commons had generated "a huge amount of temper on both sides of the Commons". |
| "The best thing we can do to calm things down is to get it delivered, get it resolved," he added. | "The best thing we can do to calm things down is to get it delivered, get it resolved," he added. |
| He also said the accusations levelled at the prime minister were "deeply unfair" adding that he had never described people as "traitors". | He also said the accusations levelled at the prime minister were "deeply unfair" adding that he had never described people as "traitors". |
| "I'm not sure that we can look the nation in the eye and say that was a good day." | "I'm not sure that we can look the nation in the eye and say that was a good day." |
| That's how a Conservative MP has described the torrid scenes in the Commons in the last 24 hours. | That's how a Conservative MP has described the torrid scenes in the Commons in the last 24 hours. |
| Outrage is a common currency these days, but MPs' jaws dropped as Mr Johnson ramped up the rhetoric in responses to questions - suggesting first that it was "humbug" for a Labour MP to demand he temper his language, to try to protect MPs' safety. | Outrage is a common currency these days, but MPs' jaws dropped as Mr Johnson ramped up the rhetoric in responses to questions - suggesting first that it was "humbug" for a Labour MP to demand he temper his language, to try to protect MPs' safety. |
| Then, he went on to say that the appropriate legacy for the MP who was murdered during the referendum, Jo Cox, was for MPs to complete the Brexit process. | Then, he went on to say that the appropriate legacy for the MP who was murdered during the referendum, Jo Cox, was for MPs to complete the Brexit process. |
| No surprise that Labour MPs howled in protest, some left the Commons in disbelief. | No surprise that Labour MPs howled in protest, some left the Commons in disbelief. |
| And there may be few Tory MPs willing, as the day goes on, to defend how far he went. | And there may be few Tory MPs willing, as the day goes on, to defend how far he went. |
| Read Laura's blog in full. | Read Laura's blog in full. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the PM's language "was indistinguishable from the far right", while his Liberal Democrat counterpart Jo Swinson said Mr Johnson's comments were "a disgrace". | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the PM's language "was indistinguishable from the far right", while his Liberal Democrat counterpart Jo Swinson said Mr Johnson's comments were "a disgrace". |
| She also told MPs that earlier on Wednesday she had reported a threat against her child to the police. | She also told MPs that earlier on Wednesday she had reported a threat against her child to the police. |
| There was criticism from current and former colleagues for Mr Johnson too. Former cabinet minister Amber Rudd - who quit the government and the Conservative Party over Mr Johnson's approach to Brexit - told ITV's Peston programme the prime minister's comments were "dishonest and dangerous". | There was criticism from current and former colleagues for Mr Johnson too. Former cabinet minister Amber Rudd - who quit the government and the Conservative Party over Mr Johnson's approach to Brexit - told ITV's Peston programme the prime minister's comments were "dishonest and dangerous". |
| And the Conservative former cabinet minister Stephen Crabb told BBC Newsnight that he was "shocked by the way [the PM] responded to the remarks about Jo Cox". | And the Conservative former cabinet minister Stephen Crabb told BBC Newsnight that he was "shocked by the way [the PM] responded to the remarks about Jo Cox". |
| Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan tweeted that Mr Johnson was "aware and sympathetic" to the threats MPs have received. | Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan tweeted that Mr Johnson was "aware and sympathetic" to the threats MPs have received. |
| "But at a time of strong feelings we all need to remind ourselves of the effect of everything we say on those watching us," she said. | "But at a time of strong feelings we all need to remind ourselves of the effect of everything we say on those watching us," she said. |
| What questions do you have about MPs returning to Parliament, the Supreme Court's ruling and what happens now? | What questions do you have about MPs returning to Parliament, the Supreme Court's ruling and what happens now? |
| Use this form to ask your question: | Use this form to ask your question: |