Eurocrats Slammed for 'Using' UK MP's Shock Murder to Boost Remain Campaign

Britain and the rest of the world have taken to social media to express their shock at the assassination of young Labour MP Jo Cox.

On Thursday (June 16), a 42-year-old mother of two was stabbed, shot and killed, after a meeting in her Yorkshire constituency, by a man who allegedly shouted "Britain First" before attacking her and is thought to have links with far-right groups.

Whatever your political affiliation, loss of innocent life is always tragic. Our thoughts are with Jo Cox's family. pic.twitter.com/230udv5OVH

— Anonymous (@AnonPress) June 16, 2016​

Jo Cox had often spoken vocally about the need to embrace diversity and welcome more refugees fleeing from war zones.

All my thougths with the family and friends of #JoCox, with @UKLabour and with all people of UK

— Federica Mogherini (@FedericaMog) June 16, 2016​

Repelled by tragic attack on British MP Jo Cox. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones

— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) June 16, 2016​

The death of Jo Cox & how it happened should & must be a wake up call. Nationalism is an epidemic of apathy.

— BirgittⒶ Jónsdóttir (@birgittaj) June 16, 2016​

Politicos in the UK immediately responded to the brutal murder by suspending all campaigning for Britain's referendum on EU membership due to take place of June 23.

It's right that all campaigning has been stopped after the terrible attack on Jo Cox. I won't go ahead with tonight's rally in Gibraltar.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) June 16, 2016​

Outside of Britain, however, some could not help but underline how the slain politician had been a staunch supporter of the UK staying in the EU. 

Cox's Bremain and pro-humanitarian credentials were highlighted by EU commissioner for migration Dimitris Avramopoulos, who, in a mournful tweet, wrote the the MP had been "murdered for her dedication to European democracy and humanity."

Jo Cox murdered for her dedication to European democracy and humanity.Extremism
divides and nourishes hatred.Solidarity with her beloved

— DimitrisAvramopoulos (@Avramopoulos) June 16, 2016​

Condolences, although with a less explicit political bend, were also expressed by the President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.

@JunckerEU What a hideously opportunist tweet.

— Peter (@Pietros1) June 16, 2016​

@JunckerEU Bullshit, your thoughts are with spinning this to the advantage of remain.

— Mr Mrh (@M_R_Mrh) June 16, 2016​

Some British tweeters did not take kindly to the Eurocrats' statements. Several pro-Leave web-activists replied scornfully to Avramopoulos and Juncker, accusing them of exploiting Cox's death for the sake of scoring political (pro-Remain) points. 

@OttieCo @Avramopoulos Cant believe some people are using it to point score.

— Josh Luck (@JoshLuck1995) June 16, 2016​

@cpsouthon another EU vulture @AmericanBrawn1 @Avramopoulos @domdyer70

— Zoe Keller (@KellerZoe) June 16, 2016​

Some also challenged the assumption that Cox's attacker was motivated by anti-EU or anti-immigrant sentiments.

@carmella101 @trebor12566 You'd think that @Avramopoulos would have the decency not to try to make political gain from this shocking murder.

— Man in Black (@69mib) June 16, 2016​

Even English former footballer Matt Le Tissier waded into the debate, by condemning "people using Jo Cox death as a means for political leverage re referendum."

People using Jo Cox death as a means for political leverage re referendum make me sick

— Matt Le Tissier (@mattletiss7) June 16, 2016​

In any case, while the Leave camp still has a substantial lead on Remain, Cox's assassination was certainly one of the factors to convince the stock markets that Britain could stay in the Union after all: for the first time in weeks, the pound has gained in value.