When is a nutter not a nutter, but a politically motivated terrorist? And are those two states of being always mutually exclusive? Or are they always the same thing?
That first question was asked, in a fairly gentle manner, by a Muslim mate of mine on a social media site. The thread had been about the murder of the Labour MP Jo Cox — and my friend was a little surprised to note the ease, if not eagerness, with which other commentators were ready to describe the alleged murderer as being simply a ‘loony’.
I do not know, and will not pre-judge, the state of mind of Thomas Mair, the man now charged with the murder of Jo Cox. The fact that he gave his name in court as ‘Death to Traitors, Freedom for Britain’ might or might not suggest that he is mentally ill rather than politically motivated.
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