Nick Lowles, CEO of HOPE not hate, said:
“The HOPE not hate team were shocked and devastated to hear of the horrific murder of Sir David Amess. His family and friends are in our thoughts and we wish to express our sincere condolences for their loss.
“This atrocious act has reopened existing wounds when it comes to fears about the safety of MPs and others in public life.
“We all have a role to play in improving the way we view our politicians, and to reject reactionary narratives of hate. It is telling that when news broke that the man arrested for the murder of Sir David Amess was a British man of Somalian heritage, the reaction of the far-right to the murder was one of joy and glee. This shows how quickly these types of atrocities can be exploited, becoming another tool for those who would spread hate in our society.
“At a time when people seek to use this terrible event to divide us as a society, we need to stand together to let everyone teetering on the sidelines of hate know that hope is always the answer. It is only by standing together against all forms of hate – be it far right or Islamist extremist – that we will truly protect our democracy and the people who work so hard to serve us.”
A Reform Party candidate fantasised about deporting “millions” of British citizens to “rid itself of the foreign plague we have been diseased with”. UPDATE: Reform…
