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Boris Johnson has provoked outrage after he hijacked murdered Jo Cox's memory by ordering threatened female MPs to back Brexit in her "honour".

The Prime Minister issued his callous statement to the very MP who replaced the slaughtered mum in 2016 when she asked him to tone down attacks on "betrayers" who want to stay in the EU.

Jo Cox, who campaigned for Remain, was stabbed and shot to death at a constituency surgery by a far-right terrorist who proclaimed "death to traitors, freedom for Britain".

Tonight Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin begged the Tory leader to end his language of "betrayal" and "surrender" over Brexit because it fuels death threats against those who survived.

Yet the shameless Tory leader refused. Instead, he told her: "The best way to honour the memory of Jo Cox and indeed the best way to bring this country together would be, I think, to get Brexit done."

Nick Lowles, chief executive of Hope Not Hate said: "As Government Ministers talk of 'betrayal', 'surrender' and 'traitors', out on the street far right activists will be flexing their muscles. Words have consequences and politicians need to be held accountable."

Jo Cox's widower Brendan said: "Feel a bit sick at Jo’s name being used in this way. The best way to honour Jo is for all of us (no matter our views) to stand up for what we believe in, passionately and with determination. But never to demonise the other side and always hold onto what we have in common."

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Ms Brabin, who was a friend of Ms Cox and elected largely unopposed out of respect to her memory in 2016, told the Mirror after the exchange: "He showed no contrition.

"Jo campaigned to remain and was someone who worked cross party with charm and kindness. To say what he did was shameful."

Labour MP Anna Turley added: "When fascism comes it will be wrapped in posh accents from pompous, entitled, over-educated caricatures chuckling at their own law-breaking."

Speaking in the Commons, Labour MP Rosie Duffield urged the Prime Minister to give himself the chance to retract his claims. She said: "She was violently killed while campaigning with her young family to remain in the EU."

But Mr Johnson refused to take it back - and reiterated his beliefs.

Ms Brabin asked her question in the House of Commons after hours of bad-tempered and bitter exchanges between MPs and the Prime Minister.

Mr Johnson was forced to Parliament after the Supreme Court ruled his attempt to shut it down for five weeks was "unlawful".

Yet Mr Johnson attempted to wildly shift focus by demanding MPs table a no-confidence motion in him to force an election.

And he branded an Act of Parliament that would delay Brexit by three months "surrender".

He accused MPs of "sabotage" by using the Act to try to prevent no-deal Brexit on October 31, saying they "do not trust the people".

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

And he accused them of "sheer selfishness and political cowardice" for not wanting an election until no-deal is ruled out.

Earlier in the debate he also dismissed an emotional plea to moderate his language from MP Paula Sherriff - who spoke of daily death threats - as "humbug".

And he told Labour's Anna McMorrin "she's got another thing coming" if she thinks threats against MPs on Twitter will "abate" in a Brexit delay.

Labour MP Lucy Powell said: "This is the kind of language, this is the context, that led to the murder of an MP leaving her surgery of an evening in a small market town by somebody from the far right."

Labour MP Alison McGovern added: "Those of us who constantly remember our friend Jo Cox need our political culture to change now.

"It is getting toxic. The Prime Minister's language is violent, and his Government is dysfunctional."

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

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Labour MP Jess Phillips said bluntly: "I'm not scared of an election, I am scared I might be hurt or killed."

Amber Rudd has told ITV’s Peston: “This whole approach of pitting Parliament against the people is dishonest and dangerous”.

The former Tory called Boris Johnson’s behaviour “wrong” and warned MPs “have seen the ramping up of threats against them” - including one who was told in the supermarket “I know where you live”.

Ms Brabin issued her plea standing just a few feet from a plaque in the House of Commons devoted to Jo Cox's memory.

(Image: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA)

She said: "Hearing from the PM words like the Humiliation Act, the Surrender Act, the Capitulation Act, all of these words are suggesting that we because we disagree with him we are traitors. We are not patriots.

“Nothing could be further from the truth.

“Now this may be a strategy to set the people against the establishment.

“I would like to gently suggest he is the establishment and we are still people.

“As the woman who has taken over a seat that was left by our dear friend Jo Cox, can I ask him - in all honesty, as a human being - please, please, will he going forward moderate his language so we will all feel secure when we’re going about our jobs.”

(Image: Huddersfield Examiner)

Yet Mr Johnson replied: "Well no, Mr Speaker.

“Of course there will be an attempt to try to obfuscate the effect of this Act - the Capitulation Act, the Surrender Act, whatever you want to call it. It does, I’m sorry but it greatly enfeebles this government’s ability to negotiate.

“But what I will say is that the best way to honour the memory of Jo Cox and indeed the best way to bring this country together would be, I think, to get Brexit done.

“And I think it is the continuing inability of this Parliament to get Brexit done that is causing the anxiety and ill feeling that is now rampant in our country. Get it done and we will solve the problem.”

Asked to explain himself Mr Johnson later stuck by his remarks.

(Image: PA)

He said: "I can I think explain exactly what I mean, because I believe the continuing failure to deliver on the mandate has greatly exacerbated feelings and the best way to reduce that tension is, as I say, to get it done. And then the whole country can move on.

"And believe me that is I think, my constituents are, and I bet it's where a majority of our constituents are as well."

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson responded by saying she had to report a threat against her child just hours earlier.

(Image: Hollie Adams)

Ms Swinson appeared to fight back tears as she told the Commons: "I today have reported to the police a threat against my child.

"That has been dismissed as humbug. This is a disgraceful state of affairs, and we must be able to find a way to conduct ourselves better."

As fury mounted the Prime Minister was asked by the Labour MP Matt Ronda: "Does he have any shred of remorse for his behaviour?”

He replied: “I’m afraid the straight answer to that is no.”