In the aftermath of the terror attack in Westminster, our Prime Minister has led the nation: she's demonstrated our very British spirit of unity, courage and determination; she's showed defiance at this attempt to threaten our democratic way of life. She's also showed warmth and compassion for the victims, their families and all those caught up in the shocking events, in a way that offered comfort and reassurance; for that we can, as a nation, be grateful.
PC Palmer paid the ultimate price to protect others. For me the most striking aspect of that awful day was the kindness and concern people showed to each other. In addition to the heroic acts of police and medics, strangers came to the aid of strangers, people showed concern for others’ wellbeing and safety. This was true inside Parliament too, between colleagues of all parties, House of Commons staff and visitors. We were reminded by the awful events that hatred has no place in in our politics; common humanity, so much in evidence last week, enables us to share more and achieve more together.
The Jo Cox Loneliness Campaign was launched in Parliament on the same day as the terror attack. The Loneliness Campaign, seeks to tackle social isolation amongst older people, and is supported by Age UK, Christian charities and MPs on all sides. I have pledged to work with local charities and churches to drive Jo’s campaign forward in Telford. The success of this Loneliness Campaign will be a testament to that spirit of shared humanity, to our instinctive ability to reach out and help others.
Humans are by nature, empathic, cooperative, and social. We share hopes and fears. We all want similar things for our families and our communities. We all want to make a better future.
Strong bonds exist within what is often termed the Parliamentary family, Peers and MPs, House of Commons staff, our own staff - because we share an experience and recognise the similar challenges others face. I hope that both our response to the terror attack and the Jo Cox Loneliness Campaign, will enable us to build on our shared humanity, our ability to empathise and our compassion for others. From that awful day, which will always stay with those caught up in it, we should learn to recognise the humanity of others and the shared desire to create a better future.