Andrew Marr pays tribute to Jo Cox at Norwood charity event

A moment of silence was held to mark the death of Jo Cox at the Norwood charity property lunch this afternoon.

More than 800 guests at the central London event paid their respects to the Labour MP, who was shot and stabbed in a shock attack yesterday.

Andrew Marr, the broadcaster who was guest speaker at the event, said Mrs Cox was a “friend of my wife, who has been in floods of tears ever since it happened”.

He said he did not know whether his regular Sunday morning show on BBC1 would run this weekend as normal, explaining: “After the murder of Jo Cox this week, I think all of politics and all political reporters are still in mourning.

“I still don’t know whether my own show will go ahead on Sunday or not; whether politicians want to carry on the Brexit argument or feel that the time has come for a break.”

THE WINNERS: NORWOOD’S PROPERTY LUNCH AWARDS 2016
● Helicla Bar won Commercial Development of the Year for the Bower
● Stanhope Plc picked up the award for Residential Development of the Year for Television Centre
● Johnny Sandelson of SIAHAF and Meyer Bergman won Residential Deal of the Year for acquiring the Spenhill portfolio from Tesco Resolution
● The resolution for Alphabeta won Commercial Deal of the Year
● Norwood’s Lifetime Achievement award went to Harvey Soning, chairman of property group James Andrew International. Mr Soning is well-known in the property industry, having been involved in numerous property developments, investment acquisitions and disposals in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and USA over the past 40 years.

He added: “I know many people who knew her well. She was, in many respects, a typical MP in the sense that she thought there was no point being an MP unless you went out into your community and engaged with people - not surrounded by police and not hiding behind protection. And she paid the price for that.”

Mr Marr, who has worked as a journalist for 35 years, said that the EU referendum debate had spiralled beyond reason.

He said: “What has happened to us in the last few weeks? We have turned into two tribes, jabbing the finger, shouting abuse at each other.

“We have had the Brexit side accusing the Remain side of being traitors to the country, liars, scaremongers and much worse. We have had the other side being told they’re racists. We have had the worst, ugliest and grimmest political debate that I can remember in my time reporting in politics.”

He added: “We are all one people, we should stop this argument, we should relax a little bit and we should pull back a little bit.”

Praising the guests at the fundraiser, he said: “You are all busy, hardworking people who have chosen to put some time and some money aside to help other people.

“I know in some ways this is a big property event, and in other ways, a big Jewish community event – but I suggest to you it is a very typical British event.

“The British at our best; all of us, at our best. Our busy, hardworking people, who put time and money aside to help those less fortunate than ourselves.”