Widower of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox says protesting outside politicians' homes ... trends now
The widower of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox has said protesting outside politicians' homes is an 'act of intimidation'.
Brendan Cox has intervened after campaign groups such as Just Stop Oil and the Palestine Solidarity Movement have started waving banners and signs directly outside the homes of MPs.
His comments come after BBC presenter Chris Packham defended eco-zealot group Just Stop Oil's tactics.
Mr Cox told Times Radio: 'It's absolutely vital that we protect the right of protest, and that can be vigorous protest,' he said.
'It can be annoying, protest, it can be an irritant. What it can't be, though, is intimidation. And I think the line that I would draw would be obviously where there is, physical violence or where there is on the property.
Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox has said protesting outside politicians' homes is an 'act of intimidation'
Mr Cox's wife Jo (pictured) was shot and stabbed by extremist Thomas Mair as she attended her Batley and Spen constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire, during the referendum on EU membership in June 2016
BBC presenter Chris Packham has came out in defence of Just Stop Oil 's protesting outside MPs' homes
'But being outside an MP house is clearly an act of intimidation; intimidation almost no matter how they behave.'
Mr Cox's wife Jo was shot and stabbed by extremist Thomas Mair as she attended her Batley and Spen constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire, during the referendum on EU membership in June 2016.
That year white supremacist Mair was jailed for life for her murder.
Since her death, Mr Cox founded the Together Coalition and The Jo Cox Foundation while also raising the couple's children, Cuillin, 13, and Lejla, 11.
His comments stand in contrast to BBC's Springwatch presenter Packham who has drawn a furious backlash after claiming groups should be entitled to a 'portfolio of protests'.
His comments came amid renewed fears over MPs' safety, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak having used a speech on Friday to warn against increasing intimidation.
There has been recent condemnation of Just Stop Oil's claim that targeting MPs at their homes is justified
Tory former minister Tobias Ellwood recently saw his family's home surrounded by a large group of pro-Palestinian protesters
Packham told Times Radio on Monday morning: 'I think that we need a portfolio of protests,
