The widower of murdered MP Jo Cox today called for an end to the 'dehumanising' behaviour on both the Left and Right in the wake Sir David Amess' murder.
Brendan Cox, whose wife was killed by a far-right extremist in 2016 while a serving Labour MP, said people needed to challenge comments which 'celebrate political segregation'.
Giving an example, the 42-year-old, who has become a prominent campaigner in the wake of his wife's murder, said he knows people who say 'I've never kissed a Tory' as a 'badge of honour'.
'It's almost a celebration of political segregation,' Mr Cox told Times Radio.
'I think that is absolutely something that we have to challenge. And linked to that we have to stop dehumanising our opponents.'
Mr Cox was speaking in the wake of the murder of Tory MP Sir David, who was stabbed to death during a constituency surgery event in Essex on Friday.
Brendan Cox (pictured speaking to the BBC today), whose wife was killed by a far-right extremist in 2016 while a serving Labour MP, said people needed to challenge comments which 'celebrate political segregation'
Mr Cox, whose MP wife Jo (pictured left) was stabbed to death in 2016, was speaking in the wake of the murder of Tory MP Sir David (pictured right), who killed during a constituency surgery in Essex on Friday
A 25-year-old man, Ali Harbi Ali, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, while officials are investigation a possible link to Islamic extremism.
Mr Cox, a father-of-two, also spoke about his reaction to the news of the killing of Sir David, as he compared it to his own thoughts when he heard about the fatal attack on his wife in 2016.
Ms Cox, then Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was shot and stabbed by far-right extremist Thomas Mair, who murdered her near to where she was due to hold a constituency surgery.
'I had a very physical reaction to it (the news of the attack on Sir David)', he told Times Radio.
'I found it extremely difficult to function for a while. That was both from being back in that moment five years ago when I got the call from somebody in Jo's office telling me that she had been attacked.
'But also just knowing what that family would be going through.
'The pain of the desperate hope in those immediate minutes when you hope that they are not too badly hurt to then the realisation of what's happened and the darkness and sadness of that, that is then with you for years, for the rest of your life.'
It comes as Sir David's family last night paid tribute to the stalwart Conservative MP, who was stabbed 17 times as he met with his Southend West constituents on Friday afternoon.
In a heartbreaking statement his family called for people to 'set aside hatred', adding: 'Nobody should die in that way. Nobody.
'Whatever one's race, religious or political beliefs, be tolerant and try to understand.
'We are absolutely broken, but we will survive and carry on for the sake of a wonderful and inspiring man.'
It comes as the suspect accused of stabbing Sir David had been forced to attend an official deradicalisation course after a teacher spotted his extremist views at least five years ago.
Ali Harbi Ali, 25, is being held by police on suspicion of murdering the veteran Conservative MP as he met with his Southend West constituents on Friday afternoon. It is believed the suspected Islamist terrorist may have chosen his victim at random having become obsessed with killing any MP.
His friends have claimed he was further radicalised and turned into a lone-wolf killer during lockdown watching YouTube videos of convicted hate preacher Anjem Choudary with police and MI5 also looking whether Sir David was chosen due to his support for Qatar, which has been exerting its influence in Somalia, the country of his diplomat father's birth.
Ali, the son of a former Somalian diplomat who was born in Britain and raised in Croydon, was referred to the flagship anti-extremism scheme, Prevent, which aims to stop individuals becoming terrorists.
But there are major questions after his behaviour was not considered to
