To think this is a new low even for Farage?

[LouiseBrooks]

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/20/nigel-farage-accuses-jo-cox-widower-brendan-cox-of-supporting-extremism

"Farage said: “Well, of course, he would know more about extremists than me, Mr Cox. He backs organisations like Hope Not Hate, who masquerade as being lovely and peaceful, but actually pursue violent and undemocratic means.”

I really hope that Hope not Hate sue him.

Mr cox should nt use his grief to shut down other opinions

He wasn't doing that. Have you read what he actually said?

"@Nigel_Farage blaming politicians for the actions of extremists? That's a slippery slope Nigel"

Magz Brendan Cox raises money for the White Helmets, a terrorist militant group that have escalated the conflict in Syria

WTF?

a terrorist militant group that have escalated the conflict in Syria??? Where are your sources for that very serious allegation? Same place as Farage's I suspect.

As someone said up thread Farage is showing himself for the scumbag he really is. Lazy, entitled, deluded and with a massive chip on his shoulder, like many other dangerous little men in history before him.

Agree that Nigel Farage has as much right to an opinion as Brendan Cox. Very sad that Mr Cox lost his wife and the mother of his children, but surely people can see this doesn't give him license to shut down debate. There are lots of conflicting opinions about the Hope not Hate group.

I'm betting the sources on that White Helmets claim will come from a "viral" video of a journalist/blogger named Eva Bartlett. In which case, to save us all time, here's the Snopes fact-checking of the claims she makes: www.snopes.com/syrian-war-victims-are-being-recycled-and-al-quds-hospital-was-never-bombed/

Hope not Hate started the no platforming trend. So he does have a bit of a point about non-democratic means as they are anti freedom of speech and debate. Violence I'm not so sure. I assume he means they turn up to the annual EDL/UAF argy bargy beano.

In what way was Mr Cox trying to "shut down debate"? He was challenging assertions made by Mr Farage i.e. disagreeing with him. Is that not how debate happens?

I too am surprised that Mr Farage thinks politicians should be held accountable for the actions of extremists. Maybe he thinks he should have been in the dock alongside Thomas Mair?

Where was Brendan cox trying to 'shut down debate'?

BarbarianMum Brendan Cox said that Nigel's Farage's comments about Merkel's refugee policy are a slippery slope. The clear implication is that he feels they should not just that Nigel Farage is wrong, but also that Farage should not make such comments at all.

As far as I know, nobody involved in this saga has suggested that Angela Merkel should be 'in the dock'. Though in my opinion she should resign from the Chancellorship in disgrace.

I think what nobody has pointed out is that Cox's initial tweet could be strongly interpreted to imply that Farage was to blame for his wife's murder.

That is a joke, right?

Do you feel like any response or discussion is trying to 'shut down the debate'?

Am I even allowed to say that to you or are you going to imagine I am "trying to silence you"?

Jesus.

BarbarianMum Brendan Cox said that Nigel's Farage's comments about Merkel's refugee policy are a slippery slope

No, he said blaming politicians for the actions of extremists was a slippery slope...e.g. Nigel Farage and his wife's murderer.

but also that Farage should not make such comments at all.
Or it could have been that, as a pseudo politician as Farage is, i.e. an absentee MEP, he himself could be implicated. I saw Brendan Cox as warning Farridge not to be such a stupid chump. Seems he wasted his breath.

OK, I disagree with your analysis. I think Mr Cox was saying that 1. terrorists should be held accountable for their own actions 2. once you start blaming politicians for the actions of terrorists in Germany that may open the door to people doing the same in the UK putting more politicians here at risk of "direct action". Which is a bad thing for democracy.

Just blame the terrorists for their acts, whether Muslim or far right.

Otherwise, if we are going to blame politicians for what terrorists do, e.g. Merkel for any Islamic terrorists - whether refugees or German born ...
then it's perfectly logical to blame Farage for the murder of Jo Cox and any Polish workers kicked to death in the Uk. More logical in fact, since Merkel didn't stand in front of any scary posters.

No one should speak against violently anti-eu farage, is that where we are now?

Unbelievable.

Bill Sykes Dog

It could be equally argued that by challenging Farage's assertion that a politician (like Merkel) is responsible for the actions of an extremist Cox is saying that it is as unjustified as linking his wife's killing to another politician (like Farage). But Farage is too thoughtless to get that.

It is very notable that the likes of Farage, Banks, Delingpole etc have expounded a lot of invective on Cox but not spent a lot of time condemning his wife's killer. They complain that he has politicised the issue-but his wife's murder was a political killing by a fascist with political motivations and to serve a political cause. Cox has every right and moral authority to speak on this issue and Farage should have the good sense to shut up for once and listen.

I'm actually going to defend farage here. Firstly he has a genuine opinion about the attack being result of immigration and he may well be some what right. To be honest im starting to think Mr cox's comments were uncalled for. To connect his wife tragic death to someone who was mentally unstable is unfair.

You what?

Sorry meant to say to connect his wife's tragic death to Nigel is unfair as the person was unstable and had a history of mental health.

Merkel has failed in providing a role of the state. The role of state is too protect her citizens from internal and external threats. There will always be failours but this is the third attack done by a refugee in Germany and she has not vetted which was a wrong decision to make.

Magic Mary
Brenden Cox did not link his wife murder to Nigel Farage; and for you to suggest he did is libellous. Rather he said that to link the actions of extremists to particular politicians is wrong and dangerous.

Also Jo Cox's murderer did not advance any evidence of mental health problems at his trial. There was however a lot of links with far right groups and clear evidence he did it for political reasons. If he had been a Muslim would you be minimising his behaviour?

At the time Farage made his comments it was not known:

-who had carried out the attack in Berlin (and it still isn't now apparently)
-what their ethnicity and immigration status is (see point 1)
-how mentally healthy they are (again, see point 1)

But it is Merkel's fault?

Do you believe no public figures remarks should ever be challenged? Or just farages?