How political violence and conspiracy became mainstream in Britain
6/16/202651 min
10 years on from the murder of MP Jo Cox, there is a grim warning from her sister Kim Leadbeater: the atmosphere in politics now is "probably worse".
Leadbeater warns of people trying to "sow division" in our country - and that's a division that Russia is seeking to exploit. One of the arsonists convicted of trying to firebomb Keir Starmer's house had also been tasked by Kremlin-linked actors with putting up far-right posters, seeking to stoke community tensions.
How can it be that, after the tragic murders of Jo Cox and David Amess, our politics continues to slide towards polarisation, anger, and conspiracy?
Later, Jake Richards - justice minister and lead on the government's men and boys strategy - on the crisis facing young men and the crisis facing Keir Starmer and his party.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
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Speaker 10:28
This is a global production.
Jon Sopel· Host0:34
When Jo Cox was murdered, the clarion call was we must do something to detoxify political debate.
Lewis Goodall· Host0:42
To this day, I think it was perhaps one of the most, if not the most disturbing and chilling days of my journalistic career. The political atmosphere and the political culture of Britain today is in a darker, dangerous, more noxious place.
Jon Sopel· Host0:58
We are so much more willing to believe in conspiracy theory. Well, I've read it. Well, yeah, you may have read it, but it's bullshit.
Lewis Goodall· Host1:05
In our fractured algorithmic politics, your only incentive is to get heard. Your only incentive is to make noise.
Speaker 11:13
Police! Stay where you are! Police! Stay where you are! Police! Stay where you are! Stay there! Stay where you are!
Keir Starmer· Soundbite1:23
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Speaker 11:24
Okay.
Keir Starmer· Soundbite1:24
Yes. Yes.
Speaker 11:25
With me, up.
Keir Starmer· Soundbite1:26
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Speaker 11:28
Subject here. Stand still.