A Week of Political Upheaval

A tribute to Jo Cox, one of the rising stars of Parliament who was only elected last year. Yorkshire born and bred, she tirelessly spoke out for immigration rights.

We cherish the environment that allows us to express our ideas with the full knowledge at a time when political, economic and philosophical discourse has taken up in a democratic fashion via the internet in the Information Age; a discourse that is open to all, despite that some of you shall agree, some of you may not and some will think we are bonking mad. Those are all valid reactions and we appreciate and learn from all your civilised reactions to the ideas we speak about and often write about. 

In the past week, there has been two significant attacks on the values that underpin our mindset: that of openness, freedom of thought and of diversity.  On Sunday, we had the savage gunning down of over 50 patrons at LBGT club in Orlando; and last night, we had murder of Jo Cox, an exemplary MP (irrespective of the party she stood for) and a tireless campaigner for immigration rights during a crucial time of the EU referendum. Make no mistake they have lost their lives because of their political views or an expression of who they are. These are an attack on all of us; especially here in London, for Tech City whose success is derived by its ability to foster new ideas and encompass many different values and cultures, it is particularly acute. We mourn.

​By Ashok Parekh