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As London police investigate another extremist attack, with a van driven into worshippers outside a mosque, there is a warning not to presume that the UK is becoming less tolerant.
The comments come in a Euronews interview with the husband of the MP Jo Cox who was murdered a year ago.
Brendan Cox told Global Coversation’s Isabelle Kumar: “If you look at all the trends, it is towards tolerance. People are more tolerant of difference, whether that is religious, or racial, or your sexuality or your gender.
“So I think we need to be careful (not) to assume that these actions of a few evil and deranged extremists in some way represent a broader trend in society.”
Brendan Cox started a nationwide movement for unity after the murder of his wife, a Labour MP who was outspoken against Brexit.
He claims politicians such as Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Marine Le Pen and Gert Wilders have legitimised what he calls the “narrative of hate speech”.
“Of course they are not directly responsible for these atrocities when they happen: the attacks on Muslims today, the hate crimes we’ve seen post the (Brexit) referendum,” said Cox.
“But what they are responsible for is a climate in which people who have those particular extreme views are more likely to act upon them.”
The full interview with Brendan Cox is broadcast in Euronews’ Global Conversation from this Wednesday, June the 21st.