European Union boss sparks outrage by claiming MP Jo Cox was murdered because of ‘nasty’ referendum campaign
European Parliament President Martin Schulz said the death of the Batley and Spen MP shows how unpredictable the EU referendum campaign was
OUTSPOKEN EU boss Martin Schulz has sparked anger today after saying MP Jo Cox's murder happened because of the 'nasty' referendum campaign.
The president of the European Parliament said her death was an example of how unpredictable the EU referendum campaign was.
Speaking at a lecture at the London School of Economics he said: "Who would have anticipated precisely what came next?
"That the campaign would get so nasty that a Member of the UK Parliament, Jo Cox, would be brutally murdered, in broad daylight, for her political convictions?"
Tory backbencher Peter Bone said MPs were facing many different threats and it was wrong for Mr Schulz to pick out Mrs Cox's death and say it had a link to the EU referendum campaign.
Speaking to Mail Online he said:
“There doesn't seem to be any link between the two things.
“To claim something like that is regrettable.
“It's a very strange thing to say - I'm surprised anyone would say it. “Unfortunately in today's society we're under threat from all sorts of people, I had to call police to my surgery this morning.”
Mr Schulz was making his remarks while Mrs Cox's husband Brendan and their two children were at the White House in Washington DC, visiting President Barack Obama.
Mr Cox said: "The kids are hugely excited and spent most of the flight doing drawings to give to the President.
"It's a very thoughtful gesture and the kids are looking forward to telling him more about their mum."
Mr Schulz's lecture at LSE comes at the end of two days of talks in London about Brexit.
First he met Theresa May, then the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
He wants Britain to have left the European Union by early 2019 at the latest.
He has urged PM Theresa May towards the “earliest possible triggering of Article 50”- the official exit process to begin departure talks.
Mr Schulz said Britain needs to be out by then because he said it would be wrong for Brits to take part in EU Parliament elections while negotiations are ongoing.
But Number 10 is refusing to be rushed on when to trigger Article 50, saying the most important thing is to get the best deal for Britain.
For Schulz to get his wish Article 50 would have to be triggered by May because the EU elections are in May 2019 and the negotiations process takes two years.
Boris Johnson has suggested Britain could leave the EU by 2019.
Speaking at the United Nations the Foreign Secretary suggested a deal may be wrapped up quicker than the process’s two-year time limit – meaning the UK could walk away in 2018 instead.
But Downing Street slapped down Johnson’s claim last night to insist the PM alone will decide Brexit’s timing.
A No10 source said: “The decision to trigger Article 50 is hers.
“She will be doing it at a time when she believes it is in the best interest for Britain.”
“The Prime Minister’s position has not changed.”
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In a statement issued before his meeting with Mrs May at Number 10, European Parliament president Mr Schulz said: "The future deal between the EU and the UK must be good for all sides and must be one which allows the UK and the EU to keep working closely together on various aspects.
"The UK has decided to leave the EU but it will continue to be a European country with values and geopolitical interests which are common to the rest of the continent.
"I will also reiterate that the four freedoms of the single market - goods, capital, services and persons - are equally important.
"In London I will also stress why the European Parliament favours the earliest possible triggering of Article 50, which is a pre-condition to opening negotiations."
European Council President Donald Tusk has claimed Mrs May told him she would implement Article 50 in early 2017.
reports Mr Schulz is in Britain for a two-day trip where he is holding a series of talks about Brexit.
As well as meeting the Prime Minister his trip includes meetings with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.