Johnson urged by MPs to curb his ‘inflammatory’ language
Boris Johnson has faced emotional appeals to curb his "violent" and "dangerous" language.
Labour's Paula Sherriff (Dewsbury) criticised Mr Johnson for his repeated use of "Surrender Act" when describing legislation designed to prevent ministers forcing through a no-deal Brexit on October 31.
She warned against using such language and recalled murdered Labour MP Jo Cox before highlighting that many MPs are subject to death threats and abuse.
But Mr Johnson labelled her remarks "humbug", which prompted an angry response in the chamber – with shouts of "shame" emerging.
Speaking in the Commons, Ms Sherriff said the Prime Minister had "continually used pejorative language to describe an Act of Parliament passed by this House".
She added: "We should not resort to using offensive, dangerous or inflammatory language for legislation that we do not like and we stand here under the shield of our departed friend with many of us in this place subject to death threats and abuse every single day.
"And let me tell the Prime Minister that they often quote his words Surrender Act, betrayal, traitor and I for one am sick of it. We must moderate our language and it has to come from the Prime Minister first."
Appalled by the Prime Minister this evening. He breaks the law and uses dangerous language that stokes division and worse in our communities. Then he get applauded by his MPs for doing so. It is unworthy of the position of PM. Utterly depressing.
— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) September 25, 2019
She added: "He should be absolutely ashamed of himself." Her words prompted applause from the opposition benches.
Mr Johnson said: "I have to say Mr Speaker I've never heard such humbug in all my life."
As the PM was heckled, Speaker John Bercow intervened to say: "I appeal to the House as a whole to debate these issues calmly."
Mr Johnson said: "It would absolutely undermine our ability to continue to negotiate properly in Brussels. It takes away the fundamental ability of a country to walk away from the negotiations and I'm afraid that is exactly what it does."
This Prime Minister is a disgrace.@paulasherriff made heartfelt plea for him to stop using inflammatory words like "surrender". She pointed at the plaque for murdered MP Jo Cox, and regular death threats MPs face, quoting such language.
Johnson said "humbug". Utter disgrace.
— Jo Swinson (@joswinson) September 25, 2019
He added: "The best way to get rid of the 'Surrender Act' is not to have voted for it in the first place, to repeal it and to vote for the deal that we are going to do – that is the way forward."
Earlier, Labour MP Alison McGovern (Wirral South) said: "Those of us who constantly remember our friend Jo Cox need our political culture to change now.
"It is getting toxic. The Prime Minister's language is violent, and his Government is dysfunctional."
She called on Mr Johnson to "take responsibility" and to "accept he acted unlawfully" and tell the Commons which of his ministers will now resign.
Mr Johnson said he agreed that tempers have become "very ragged" across the country.
I get death threats and still I stand up, I don't surrender to fear & aggression. I don't surrender to lowest common denominator of fear to votes. I don't surrender to bullies who call me names. It is not I who have surrendered it is Boris Johnson he has surrendered his dignity.
— Jess Phillips Esq., M.P. (@jessphillips) September 25, 2019
Labour MPs gasped as the Prime Minister said the best way to honour murdered MP Jo Cox would be to "get Brexit done".
Tracy Brabin, MP for Batley and Spen, who was elected to the seat after Ms Cox was killed by a man with far-right sympathies during the EU referendum campaign, called for the Prime Minister to moderate his language.
She said: "As the woman who has taken over a seat left by our dear friend Jo Cox, can I ask him in all honesty as a human being please, please will he going forward moderate his language so that we will all feel secure when we're going about our jobs?"
Mr Johnson replied: "Of course there will be an attempt to try to obfuscate the effect of this Act, but it does – the capitulation act, or the surrender act or whatever you want to call it – it does, I'm sorry, but it greatly enfeebles, it greatly enfeebles this Government's ability to negotiate.
"But what I will say is that the best way to honour the memory of Jo Cox and indeed the best way to bring this country together would be, I think, to get Brexit done."
