The tragic and targeted assassination of Trump ally Charlie Kirk at a university event in the US yesterday should give us all pause to reflect. Mercifully, gun violence is far less common in Britain than America. Sadly, knives are not. Nigel Farage has already been attacked multiple times. Milkshakes today could be acid or worse tomorrow. But this isn’t about Left and Right.
We should be cheered by the fact that, Stateside, politicians of all stripes lined up to condemn the shooting, including former Democratic Presidents Obama and Biden. Personally I heartily dislike journalism which demonises and belittles politicians. No problem attacking policies but there should always be a need for basic humanity.
Even Reform’s leadership has called Sir Keir Starmer a decent chap while the party battles to unseat Labour.
Of course emotions run high in politics, but ALL sides need to remember these are human beings with families, just like Kirk.
Indeed – as others have alluded to – politics which risks violence undermines freedom of expression, something which makes us all poorer.
If any lesson can be learned from this repugnant and barbaric act it is for all of us to take a breath, dialling back the personal attacks.
Is it worth losing lives over?
