Brendan Cox has resigned

I first used the phrase "coming on to other women" but I was making the point that he thinks to do that is OK in a marriage, in principle, as he hasn't even mentioned the inappropriateness of that in itself. But I wasn't describing what he actually is alleged to have done in that way.

He knew he had these skeletons in the cupboard, so why did he go for the public profile and interviews and being on the boards of charities? He could have just let other people take charge and laid low. He's only remorseful now it's public.

Without excusing him, sexual harassment is everywhere, but Brendan Cox is one man. I could literally throw a stick and find an employer where there has been some sexual harassment, so why has the Daily Mail singled him out?

On balance I can stomach more "sexual abuse isn't that serious really" coming from the right than I can "sexual abuse is very serious but if the abuser is one of ours we must think about their fine character" coming from the left.

The very notion that he is reformable, and deep down is just suffering and needs to sort himself out is objectionable.

What is happening is the right is figuring out that a lot of tactics the left employs such as those outlined in Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals are perfectly serviceable and work just as well for the right.

I am going to be charitable to the left here in I don't think they are as hypocrtical as they look. What has happened is the left have become incredibly intellectually flabby, and are thus far more reliant on PR and thus individual personalities have become more important than the arguments. So they are genuinely more terrified that the loss of an individual on the field means the loss of the argument.

I'm think we all trully want to see the end of sexual assault and harassment, but the left are all too often felt pushed into a literal deal with the devil.

He should be prosecuted for assault then. If he grabbed somebody by the throat. Which is extremely serious. It's the hysteria of he's vile, he's a monster. If he is then he should be locked up instead of a load of hand wringing.

It is irrelevant if you think its a right wing media conspiracy. We can't have different expectations for men with the same political leanings as us. He did it and got caught. The rest of it is meaningless. I am relieved that the charity can now flourish without his name, despite strongly supporting its aims I couldn't support it with him there. Now I can.

And now we have the sight of Labour women on Twitter excusing his behaviour or admiring the fact he’s facing up to it. FFS he’s ‘facing up to it’ because it was splashed all over the Mail.

He needs to get out of the limelight asap, and work on repairing his mind, body and soul. Making it up to his kids and his wifes family - let alone his own family.

The worst thing in all of this - is that he was seem as the shining light, the role model for all things good etc. The number of times he has spoken in public quite loudly re other peoples behaviour, anyone who isnt a Labour supporter etc - and all along he was really something completely different - the direct opposite in fact.

There will no doubt be a story coming out about his mental health issues, depression, alcohol etc etc. There is a name for people that expect very high standards in others whilst not being able to reach those same standards.....

Gobbolino I'm not trying to make it less serious. I'm pointing out that there are other men out there who have got away with similar. There are an awful lot of people who've seen rape/sexual assault complaints dropped. If the outcome of witch hunting individuals on the whim of powerful news organisations with an axe to grind is that they are more likely to face come back, that would be a good thing, but not an especially just way of achieving it. I'm too long in the tooth to believe that this is the moment the system genuinely changes, but maybe if there are enough stories and we don't let it just be this year's way of dispatching some inconvenient people, maybe it could be.

I don't understand how him being drunk is being used as some sort of excuse. When drunk women are sexually assaulted, it's framed as being their fault for being drunk.

shartsi apologies it was my poor phrasing. I totally agree with you about investigation and prosecution for offences. I meant step into the shadows from public life and being wheeled out on BBC and other programmes whenever there’s an Britain First type discussion being had.

It’s very telling that the two most serious allegations, are so similar.
They come from women thousands of miles apart, yet he’s accused in both of grabbing, intimidating, groping, and pushing.

He’s acknowledged the one which happened in the Uk but says he doesn’t recognise exactly the same behaviour he’s accused of in America.

Funny that!
He’s a liar.

My post was to Vivienne

“Coming on to other women”

So grabbing someone by the throat and saying “I want to fuck you” is a “come on” in your world?

All I can say is, poor you.

The new allegation is this:

It is claimed that Mr Cox drunkenly harassed a female employee at the charity in London, forcing her against a wall outside a bar, holding her by the throat and telling her: 'I want to f* you.'

When it was put to him, rather than denying it, BC gave an interview to the Mail on Sunday where he cried and apologies for inappropriate behaviour rather than denying it. So Inthink it would be fair to sssume that he accepts that allegation.

Personally I think there has to be a truce when it comes to allegations of this nature where we all agree to stop closing ranks to protect our respective political sides, and just focus on the allegations at hand. Yes there will be certainly agendas behind who is targeted and when, but actually those aren't more important than the women who come forward.

Absolutely. And I speak as someone irretrievably left wing.

He's not murdered anyone. Folk should calm down.

One of the most ridiculous statements I’ve ever read on MN.

allthatmalarky I resent your subtle implication that when anyone on the right calls out someone it's a tactic and must have a hidden agenda. Yet when the left does it it's more likely to be in good faith. The reason why this is less likely to get you Trump's scalp is he has never tried to market himself as anything other than he is. Whereas the amount of historical covering up, collusion and minimising that goes on when a man on the left does it beggars belief. Just compare Donald Trump to Bill Clinton.

Personally I think there has to be a truce when it comes to allegations of this nature where we all agree to stop closing ranks to protect our respective political sides, and just focus on the allegations at hand. Yes there will be certainly agendas behind who is targeted and when, but actually those aren't more important than the women who come forward.

This sort of harassment has been going on forever. It's why it drives me nuts when they talk about harassment by immigrant males when in fact the only males who have harassed me (when I was much younger) were very creepy rich old white men. It's sick and that sort are getting a lot of power again

It's not even clear what he's actually done. Was it a criminal offence or not. I didn't mean that sexual assault shouldn't be prosecuted. But it's not even clear that it took place from what I've read. Coming on to other women while married isn't exactly commendable but it's not criminal. Would there be enough prisons in the country to hold people if it was.

And vivienne, saying people should calm down because BC hasn't murdered anyone - are you serious?!

Employment lawyer, I've worked somewhere where a manager did pretty much exactly that (allegedly).

that doesnt make what BC did any less serious or are you saying because two men have allegedly behaved in a similar way, it is somehow normalised?

And the police dropped the charges for lack of evidence. Employer was a UK charity (they're not usually hotbeds of harassment but there do tend to be a lot women workers and few men, usually managers).

Nashville, why should he step into the shadows? He has confessed to sexual assault. He should be prosecuted and jailed. The victims need justice.

To be expected