Senior figures from the main Westminster parties have signed a pledge outlining their “responsibility to try to use moderate language” following furious scenes in the Commons in recent debates about Brexit.

The statement, drawn up during a meeting at the Speaker’s House in parliament on Monday, was signed by Mark Spencer, the government chief whip – most government ministers are in Manchester for the Conservative conference – and Jeremy Corbyn.

The other signatories were the Scottish National party’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford; the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson; the Democratic Unionist party’s Nigel Dodds; the Green MP Caroline Lucas; the Independent Group for Change leader, Anna Soubry; Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts; and the Speaker, John Bercow.

“We all accept that we have a responsibility to try to use moderate language,” the statement begin. “We all feel that those in leadership positions have a particular duty to weigh their words carefully, bearing in mind that there are stark divisions across the country on Brexit.

“The right of a member to personal safety is absolute and unconditional. Everyone is entitled to have a view – be they parliamentarian, journalist or a member of the public – and their right to safety cannot in any way be dependent on what that view is or the course of political action they take.”

The gathering was instigated following anger and upset in the Commons last week, when there was repeated criticism of Boris Johnson for terms such as “surrender bill” to describe a backbench-instigated law seeking to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

The most vehement anger came on Wednesday last week, when Johnson described as “humbug” worries expressed by Labour’s Paula Sherriff about threats to MPs by people using the same language as the prime minister, and her fears of a repeat of the 2016 murder of fellow Labour MP Jo Cox by a far-right terrorist.

Johnson was also condemned for arguing in the same debate that the best way to honour Cox – who campaigned vigorously for remain – would be to “get Brexit done”.

The prime minister repeatedly refused to apologise, saying only that his use of “humbug” referred to people arguing against the use of the term surrender, and that he was “sorry for the misunderstanding”.

Speaking after the meeting, Corbyn said he had requested the gathering following Johnson’s comments “and the appalling language he used, particularly in respect of Paula Sheriff’s comments over the death of Jo Cox”.

Corbyn said: “The Speaker has since drafted up a statement on behalf of us, which is to say: tone down the rhetoric, tone down the language.

“‘Yes, political debate. Yes, political disagreement. Yes, passionate political thought but don’t use hyperbolic language that’s dangerous. Don’t use language that incites people to act in a dangerous way on the streets of our country.

“Surely we are an advanced democracy, we can have a public discourse and public debate without resorting to the use [of such language] without encouraging what becomes dangerous, often racist, activity on the streets of our country.”