Outrage as EU chief Martin Schulz blames Labour MP Jo Cox’s murder on ‘nasty’ referendum campaign
The claim came as the President of the European Parliament was in London to urge PM Theresa May to hurry up on Brexit
German EU chief Martin Schulz faced a furious backlash last night after directly blamed Jo Cox’s brutal killing on the “nasty” referendum campaign.
The claim came as the President of the European Parliament was in London to urge Theresa May to hurry up on Brexit.
In a passionate defence of the European ideal, the bureaucrat also insisted there would be no surrender from Brussels over the freedom of movement.
At a speech in central London, Mr Schulz claimed the tragic death of the Labour MP was an example of how unpredictable the EU referendum campaign was.
Mrs Cox, 41, who served as MP for Batley and Spen, was killed on the street in Birstall, West Yorkshire just days ahead of Britain’s historic EU vote.
The timing of her death — exactly a week before the June 23 referendum — prompted a suspension of campaigning by both sides.
The German MEP told London School of Economics: “Who would have anticipated precisely what came next — that the campaign here in your country would get so nasty that a member of the UK Parliament, Jo Cox, would be brutally murdered in broad daylight for her political convictions.”
But no credible UK politician has linked her tragic death directly to referendum.
He also claimed that further referendums across the continent were a risk to the EU, which he said was not compatible with “direct democracy”.
Following meetings at Downing Street with Theresa May on Thursday, Mr Schulz revealed he asked the PM for “a little more light” on Brexit during her big speech at next week’s Tory party conference.
He insisted: “I am convinced that the best possible deal with the EU is membership of the EU.”
“Any other arrangement necessarily entails trade-offs — there will be no à la carte menu on offer for the UK.”
“I also see a clear majority in the European Parliament for insisting that the fundamental freedoms are inseparable, i.e. no freedom of movement for goods, capital and services, without free movement of persons.
He added: “I refuse to imagine a Europe where lorries and hedge funds are free to cross borders but citizens cannot. I cannot accept any hierarchy between these four freedoms.”
He later told Sky News: “full access to single market without freedom of movement is the request of UK Government. That is for sure not feasible for EU.”
Mr Schulz also called for the UK to trigger Article 50 – the formal two year Brexit process – as soon
as possible.
His tirade came as Mrs Cox’s husband Brendan and their two small children Cuillin and Lejla were visiting at the White House for a meeting with President Obama.
Mr Cox said: “The kids are hugely excited and spent most of the flight doing drawings to give to the President.
He added: “It’s a very thoughtful gesture and the kids are looking forward to telling him more about their mum.”
Thomas Mair, 52, is accused of shooting the 41-year-old mother of two dead and will stand trial at the Old Bailey in November.
An uncontested by-election will be held in Batley and Spen on 20 October.
Meanwhile, soap star Tracy Brabin has been selected as the Labour candidate for Mrs Cox’s Batley and Spen seat.
The former Coronation Street actress is almost certain to become the next MP as the other major parties have vowed not to field candidates for the October 20 by-election