Peter Reynolds

I’m sorry to make this point but every second of airtime that Mrs May gains from this, every image of her visiting victims and encouraging the emergency services is more votes in the ballot box.

Shamelessly, she is exploiting this diabolical act for her own self-interest.  The election campaign may be suspended but the media spotlight is now far more tightly focused on her.  Just as it’s probably true the Jo Cox murder affected the leave vote in the EU referendum and the Falklands War helped Margaret Thatcher through a difficult political period, so Mrs May will gain immeasurably from this horrifying, terrible, heartbreaking event.

We should return to the election campaign as soon as possible.  That is the best way to pay respect to the victims and their families by not allowing terror to win.  Our democracy, poor inadequate version that it is, must go on.