The Maltese Parliament this evening paid tribute to British Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered outside her constituency office last week.

Mario de Marco, speaking for the opposition, said Ms Cox had dedicated her life to the service of the people of Britain. She had followed the politics of persuasion and been killed by a man who used the politics of terror. 

Dr de Marco warned against the spread of hate in Malta, especially at those seen as different for racial or political reasons. Whatever the reason, hatred and violence were unjustified.

All should work to destroy hate and strengthen community spirit where everyone had a right to be different, without hindrance and imposition one way or another.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this was a wake-up call for all those who held democracy dear and for society to tackle extremism and radicalisation. 

This case showed how terror was not exclusive to any group of people. This act of terror was carried out by a Briton born and bred in one of the most traditional British cities. 

No one had exclusivity over terrorism.

Dr Muscat called for prudence in the language used by politicians and others. Forceful criticism, he said, was not hate. He strongly criticised the leader of the opposition, but did not hate him. And it was the same the other way around.

'Let us not let anyone use our messages to foment hatred,' Dr Muscat said.

Both sides expressed condolences to the Cox family, the UK Labour Party and the British government.