Sky Views: Get together to fight hatred

Adam Boulton, Editor At Large

This year the British public has been hit by a series of horrible and deadly events.

There have been three terror attacks in Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge, with multiple people being killed on each occasion.

Now comes the fire in the North Kensington tower block, where the death toll has risen to 30 and beyond.

Such events are frightening and leave many people feeling powerless, angry and looking for the culprits to bring to justice.

We are assured that hard lessons will be learnt but it seems nothing positive can ever come of them - except perhaps precautions to try to stop similar disasters happening in future.

At a time when extremists of all types are trying to divide our communities, there is a huge ground swell of people who just want to focus on the things that unite us, who want to draw closer to their neighbours and communities.

Jo Cox's family take a different view.

Across the country this weekend they are organising The Great Get Together to prove it.

Exactly a year ago during the EU referendum campaign, Labour MP Mrs Cox was murdered outside her constituency office in Yorkshire by a far right extremist and loner. The murderer is now serving a full life sentence.

Mrs Cox would have been 43 next week. At the time she was shot and stabbed her two children, Cuillin and Lejla, were five and three years old. She was a first-time MP who had previously been a foreign aid worker.

Her husband Brendan has written a book to keep Jo's memory alive. But grieving and looking after the children have been priorities for him and their family and friends.

They were also struck by the "wave of compassion and kindness that has comforted us ever since and for which we are extremely grateful".

Brendan Cox says: "At a time when extremists of all types are trying to divide our communities, there is a huge ground swell of people who just want to focus on the things that unite us, who want to draw closer to their neighbours and communities.

"I think people are sick of the narrative of hatred and division that neither represents who they are nor our great country."

So this weekend to prove it, The Great Get Together is happening.

There are more than 110,000 events taking place across the UK. You can check out what is happening in your area online.

There is also a publicity campaign to promote togetherness.

Britain's four previous prime ministers have put out a joint message in support. David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major failed to get together last year during the referendum event though they all backed the same side.

A showdown between rival TV newsrooms is also planned, based on the fight in the comedy film Ron Burgundy - Anchor Man.

There are lots of selfies too. You may remember the Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell and I had a bit of a row on air after the 2010 General Election. In 2017 we've posed together as friends for The Great Get Together and standing up for "robust debate".

Jo Cox's family and friends came up with the idea because they "believe there is a groundswell of people who reject divisive politics and simply want to bring our communities together and celebrate all that unites us".

"As the Prime Minister said when she remarked on Jo's death in her New Year's message: 2017 represents an opportunity to move forward and 'bring this country together, as never before'," they said.

They say "this is our chance".

I don't know if it will work.

It certainly won't wipe away the hurt of Jo Cox's murder. But in these bleak times it's surely worth a try.

Sky Views is a series of comment pieces by Paste BN editors and correspondents, published every morning.

Previously on Sky Views: Lewis Goodall - Rebel Corbyn has become traditional