The shocking death of Jo Cox brings home to us all just what it means to serve communities in the way she did and the way we do. The universal reaction of shock across the political spectrum and society as a whole reflects the fact that something has happened which attacks our core beliefs as a nation. Jo Cox was out and about meeting her constituents as we all do all of the time. The fact that she was shot while so is obviously shocking and distressing in itself but those thoughts are compounded by the fact that this sort of thing doesn't happen here. The fact that it doesn't is why we are British and is part of what Britain stands for – a tolerance of other people's point of view and belief in democracy. The death of Jo Cox has, unconsciously at this time at least, undermined our faith is what we are and what we stand for.
I hope that in the coming weeks and months we can, collectively as a society and as individuals, reflect on how such a tragic event as happened yesterday came about and how we can all work to build a world in which such an event is never repeated.
Instead of a long blog from me, this week is an article especially written by former North Swindon MP Michael Wills. It sums my feelings on how the people of Swindon should approach the EU referendum on Thursday. Please take the time to read it here.