The Sun criticised for column threatening another murder like Jo Cox if Brexit is overturned The column, titled ‘Crush this plot to steal Brexit’, has been accused of threatening violence over Brexit

The Sun has been criticised for an editorial in which it threatens a “tsunami of rage” if Brexit is overturned, and cites the murder of MP Jo Cox.

Thursday’s “The Sun Says” column, which is meant to reflect the views of the paper, was titled “Crush this plot to steal Brexit”.

‘Live with the consequences’ of overturning Brexit

In the closing paragraphs, it says:

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“If Britain voted Leave again, as we believe it would, we could exit the EU rapidly with no deal… the Remainers’ nightmare. If Remain won, our democracy would be shattered, all faith in politicians destroyed. That never ends well. Do you think Brits are too reserved for civil disorder? Cast your mind back to the riots of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990 or 2011. Or the febrile atmosphere of the referendum, during which Jo Cox MP was heartbreakingly murdered. What a tsunami of rage politicians would unleash by ignoring the democratic rights on millions on the winning side of the biggest vote in British history. Is it a risk the second vote camp are willing to take? Because they will have to live with its consequences. Britain is already a ‘deeply fractured country’, in the words of Chancellor Philip Hammond yesterday. Imagine how bad it will get if MPs, having handed the people the right to choose Brexit, then steal if from us.”

The column has been heavily criticised for potentially enabling and encouraging violence.

Former Sun journalist David Yelland tweeted: “When my old paper predicts and risks enabling civil disorder and mentions Jo Cox in that context it goes too far. Parliament is sovereign. Violence is never, ever acceptable. Troubling leader.”

When my old paper predicts and risks enabling civil disorder and mentions Jo Cox in that context it goes too far. Parliament is sovereign. Violence is never, ever acceptable. Troubling leader. pic.twitter.com/l5tAFFEI9W — David Yelland (@davidyelland) December 6, 2018

Several MPs have also been heavily critical of the paper. Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, said: “This is a disgraceful leader from @TheSun. Providing excuse for civil disobedience is unacceptable and it betrays what Jo Cox stood for. Jo campaigned for what she believed in. Similarly, the threat of violence should not put us off campaigning for what is right today.”

This is a disgraceful leader from @TheSun. Providing excuse for civil disobedience is unacceptable and it betrays what Jo Cox stood for. Jo campaigned for what she believed in. Similarly, the threat of violence should not put us off campaigning for what is right today. https://t.co/0WGrHBLGrC — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) December 6, 2018

And Labour MP for Redcar, Anna Turley, said: “This is disgraceful from the Sun. Jo was murdered because she stood up bravely and publicly for what she believed in and for her positive vision of the world. Her death should inspire us all to do the same. If we are cowed as the Sun recommends, then hatred and violence wins.”

This is disgraceful from the Sun. Jo was murdered because she stood up bravely and publicly for what she believed in and for her positive vision of the world. Her death should inspire us all to do the same. If we are cowed as the Sun recommends, then hatred and violence wins. https://t.co/pYKZWY72Lw — Anna Turley (@annaturley) December 6, 2018

The column is one of two articles in The Sun which have angered Labour MPs today.

The Party has demanded the paper retract a “plainly racist” article about Kate Osamor MP, which suggested she and her mother, who is a baroness, only reached such stature because they are black.

Rod Liddle made the remark in his latest column, titled “Labour Family’s Shame”.

In it he attacks Osamor for having her son Ishmael work for her in her Edmonton constituency, despite having a previous conviction for drug dealing.

Guardian columnist Owen Jones called Liddle’s piece “unapologetic racism, again showing how you can be a rampant racist and flourish in the British media while so many talented and diverse writers can’t even get their foot in the door”.

Unapologetic racism by Rod Liddle in The Sun, again showing how you can be a rampant racist and flourish in the British media while so many talented and diverse writers can't even get their foot in the door. pic.twitter.com/3WevRr8JoY — Owen Jones says join a union???? (@OwenJones84) December 6, 2018

A spokesperson for The Sun told Huffington Post: “We publish plenty of pieces by columnists from a range of different perspectives, which don’t necessarily represent the paper’s views.

“Rod has an opinion column and as such he’s entitled to have his own opinions, and people are similarly entitled to strongly disagree with them.”