The appalling murder of the
Labour MP Jo Cox has caused shock and revulsion throughout the country and the
fact that over £600,000 was raised for her designated charities literally
overnight shows how people have been moved by these tragic events.
There are lots of things that
divide the different political parties but there is one thing that unites us
all and that is a passionate belief in democracy. One of the things that
makes our democracy so special is the fact that local MPs are accessible.
Every MP holds regular
surgeries in their constituency to try to help people with problems in their
lives. From people who have had their quality of life blighted by
intractable planning disputes with their neighbours, through to those having
difficulty getting sense out of the system to gain the care support they need
for a disabled loved one. From really difficult issues involving social
services and child custody, right through to the most terrible of tragedies
where constituents have lost children in road accidents or loved ones in
hospital operations that went wrong. Wherever you might have come from in
life, the experience of being a constituency MP is a leveller.
Making sure that MPs are
exposed to and empathise with all of these problems is what keeps the system on
its toes. MPs return to parliament and can table difficult questions to
any Minister. Ministers, in turn, know that local MPs can alert them to
problems on the ground. Sometimes new problems are discovered and put
right. The way our system works enables a small injustice or failure
locally to be translated all the way to the top.
That is why, despite
discussion about the security around MPs, it is essential that things carry on
as before and that MPs remain accessible. Jo Cox was clearly a talented
MP with a great future ahead of her. She had great experience of the charity
sector and expertise in international development which she brought to the
House of Commons and she earned respect across the House. Her murder is a
loss for parliament and a tragedy for her family, especially her two young
children. Our best answer to this senseless murder is to ensure that we
carry on.
No comments:
Post a comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.