Statement on the use of language in public life

We the undersigned represent a range of political views in Swindon. We believe in plurality of politics and the freedom to disagree and to debate our differences. We join together in rejecting the use of divisive and hate-fuelled language that increases tensions and divisions in our society and that can lead to violence.

We remember and honour Jo Cox MP, who was murdered in a politically motivated hate-fuelled attack in 2016, and call for all parties in the debate over Brexit, and in politics more generally, to choose their words carefully. We do not subscribe to the rhetoric of ‘traitors’, ‘surrender’ or ‘betrayal’, whether we think those in power are behaving in our interests or not. We commit to debate and to fight for our interests in a manner that does not act as a catalyst to hate or violence.

We call upon everyone to show restraint in their use of language while legitimately questioning the actions of the Government and our own elected representatives.

We recognise that there will be many others who wish to add their names to this statement, and we encourage them to do so.

Sarah Church – Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon

Andy Bentley – Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for North Swindon

Steve Rouse – Chair of Swindon for Europe

Jamie Taylor – Swindon Liberal Democrats

Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn – Wroughton, former Parish Councillor, former Green Party Candidate

Zoe McCormick – Swindon for Europe, Extinction Rebellion and Swindon Liberal Democrats

Peter Dilly – Extinction Rebellion

Sarah Bowles – former Chiseldon Parish Councillor

Steve Thompson – Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon

Kate Linnegar – Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for North Swindon

Councillor Jim Grant – Leader of the Labour Group, Swindon Borough Council

Councillor Chris Watts – Chair, South Swindon Parish Council

Councillor Steve Allsopp – Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, Swindon Borough Council

Councillor Stan Pajak – Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Swindon Borough Council

Councillor Janine Howarth – Chair of South Swindon Labour Party and Borough Councillor for Liden, Eldene and Park South

Councillor Bazil Solomon – Swindon Borough Councillor for Liden, Eldene and Park South

Councillor Jim Robbins – Swindon Borough Councillor for Mannington and Western

Councillor Claire Crilly – Swindon Borough Councillor for Penhill and Upper Stratton

Councillor Steph Exell – Swindon Borough Councillor for Mannington and Western

Councillor Andy Spry – Swindon Borough Councillor for Wroughton and Wichelstowe

Councillor Des Moffat – Swindon Borough Councillor for Rodbourne Cheney

Councillor Emma Bushell – Swindon Borough Councillor for Walcot and Park North

Councillor Ray Ballman – Swindon Borough Councillor for Gorse Hill and Pinehurst

Councillor Jane Milner-Barry – Swindon Borough Councillor for Old Town and East Wichel

Councillor Abdul Amin – Swindon Borough Councillor for Walcot and Park North

Councillor Paul Dixon – Swindon Borough Councillor for Eastcott

Councillor Kevin Small – Swindon Borough Councillor for Mannington and Western

Councillor Bob Wright – Swindon Borough Councillor for Central Ward

Councillor Nadine Watts – Swindon Borough Councillor for Old Town and East Wichel

Councillor Peter Watts – Swindon Borough Councillor for Rodbourne Cheney

Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh – Swindon Borough Councillor for Eastcott

Councillor Adorabelle Shaikh – Swindon Borough Councillor for Central Ward

Councillor John Ballman – Swindon Borough Councillor for Gorse Hill and Pinehurst

Councillor Fay Howard – Swindon Borough Councillor for Liden, Eldene and Park South

Councillor Trish Philpot – West Swindon Parish Councillor

Councillor Patrick Herring – Chair Swindon Co-operative Party and South Swindon Parish Councillor

Geraint Day – Co-operative Party Committee member

Ken Kimber – Secretary Swindon Area Green Party

Simon Bleaken – South Swindon Green Party member

Amanda Neate

Michael Neate

Chantelle Smith – Wroughton, Green Party member

Samantha Wathen – Keep Our NHS Public Swindon Branch

Tony Hillier

Marilyn Beale

Brian Shakespeare

Sue Powell

Joan Orman, Wroughton

Lynne Humphries, Wroughton

John Gregory- Wroughton

Dr Adam Poole – Wroughton

Kathy Sterry – West Swindon

Steve Kendall

Linda Harrison

Kate Lock

Steve Kendall

Steve Harcourt – Wroughton

Alex Coppock-Bunce

Pippa Fairbourn – Student

Amanda Woodhead – Wroughton

Martin Dowdeswell – Swindon for Europe

Mike Swann– Swindon for Europe

Emma Brown– Swindon for Europe

Jo Collins– Swindon for Europe

Mike Walters– Swindon for Europe

Teri Dale– Swindon for Europe

Rev Wendy Tucker, Methodist Minister– Swindon for Europe

Nathalie Marshall– Swindon for Europe

Linda Bacon– Swindon for Europe

Victoria Fisher– Swindon for Europe

Carolyn Phillippo– Swindon for Europe

Boo Janga– Swindon for Europe

Leon Grother– Swindon for Europe

Lisa Aldersley – Extinction Rebellion

Joy Corrigan – Extinction Rebellion

Andy Day– Extinction Rebellion

Tristan Strange– Extinction Rebellion

Scott Aldersley– Extinction Rebellion

Lorraine Aldersley– Extinction Rebellion

Michelle Todd – Extinction Rebellion

Howard March – Swindon Green Party treasurer, Extinction Rebellion

Adele Walker, UK Citizen– Extinction Rebellion

Jamie Carr– Extinction Rebellion

John Ranford– Extinction Rebellion

Deirdre Levy– Extinction Rebellion

Lizzie Cambray– Extinction Rebellion

Linda Lee, Swindon Community Choir– Extinction Rebellion

Fraser McCormick – Swindon Liberal Democrats

Debra Smith– Swindon Liberal Democrats

Fiona McAnespie– Swindon Liberal Democrats

Joanna Marie Holbourn– Swindon Liberal Democrats

Rob Heath– Swindon Liberal Democrats

John Timbrell – President, Swindon Trades Council (personal capacity)

Andrew Whitford

Helena Bowie

Swindon Co-operative Party

Chris Fox, Swindon

Dave Griffiths – South Swindon Parish Councillor

Steve O’Neal – Secretary, Devizes Labour Party

Graham Philpot

John Lammin, Swindon

Richard Howroyd,

Michele Wortelhoek

Michael Proctor – Labour and Unite the Union Member

Susan Bell

Angela Jones

David Uren

Angus Geddes

Justine Taylor

Adi Whittington – Highworth

Simon George

Kerrie Stone

Jonathan Secker

Simon Bridewell

Merlina Waterworth

Amparo Torregrosa – Swindon for Europe

Jan Tucker

Ann Lovell

Stephen Henderson

Jacqui Barnes-Monaghan

Clarisse Grother