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A rising British politician was fatally stabbed and shot in the U.K. Thursday — just one week before citizens vote to determine if the United Kingdom remains in the European Union. The campaign for the "Brexit" referendum has become highly contentious and politically volatile.
Labor MP Jo Cox, 41, was elected just last year. Most of her career prior to politics had been spent in humanitarian work, and she was an outspoken supporter of immigration, refugees and civilians in Syria — a subject which is at the heart of the debate over whether the U.K. should stay or exit the European Union.
Her killer allegedly yelled "Britain First", the name of a far right group, before the attack.
Gun violence is rare in the U.K., and the incident has shocked the country. In response, the campaign over Brexit has been suspended, at least temporarily as politicians, pundits, and citizens ponder if the brutal killing will quell the rhetoric surrounding the debate.
Simon Hix, a professor of political science at The London School of Economics, explains how the U.K. is moving forward, and how this act of violence may change the "Brexit" debate. Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear our full conversation.