BORIS Johnson is facing calls to apologise after he told the House of Commons to “honour” murdered MP Jo Cox by getting behind his Brexit plans.

There was uproar in Parliament when the Prime Minister repeatedly berated MPs, rejected calls to temper his language and said the best way to honour Cox – an ardent Remainer – was to “get Brexit done”.

Yesterday, Johnson’s sister was among those who criticised him, describing his words as “tasteless”.

Appearing on Sky News, Rachel Johnson, who has been a vocal opponent of her brother over leaving the European Union, said he was wrong to suggest the best way to honour the memory of Cox was to deliver Brexit.

The former candidate for The Independent Group for Change was sharing her views on the changes in political language after febrile scenes in the Commons when Parliament resumed on Wednesday.

Rachel Johnson said: “A lot of this language was initiated in the tabloids because we had [headlines] like ‘crush the saboteurs’, we had the judiciary and Remain MPs being ‘enemies of the people’, words like collaborationist, betrayal.

“My brother is using words like ‘surrender’ and ‘capitulation’ as if the people standing in the way of the blessed will of the people, as defined by the 17.4 million votes in 2016, should be hung, drawn, quartered, tarred, and feathered. I think that is highly reprehensible.”

LISTEN: Boris Johnson's sister condemns his Brexit strategy

Cox’s husband Brendan said the Brexit debate had descended into a “bear pit of polarisation” and appealed for all sides to avoid inflammatory words.

“It creates an atmosphere where attacks and violence are more likely than they otherwise would’ve been,” he added.

Earlier in the Commons, Labour MP Jess Phillips said the “bravest” thing for the Prime Minister to do would be to apologise.

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She said his use of language which invoked “the war, such as betrayal and treachery” had “clearly been tested and work-shopped and worked up, and entirely designed to inflame hatred and division”. She added that she felt “pity” for those Conservative MPs who “have to toe his line”.

She added: “I want to ask the Prime Minister to apologise and to tell him that the bravest, strongest thing to say is sorry – it will make him look good, it will not upset the people who want Brexit in this country if he acts for once like a statesman.”

Letters: Johnson shows no remorse, no contrition and no shred of guilt

The Prime Minister refused to come to the Commons yesterday and instead Cabinet Office Minister Kevin Foster answered on his behalf.

Former Conservative MP Caroline Nokes described how earlier this month someone called her a “traitor who deserved to be shot” on a walkabout in her constituency.

She asked how she should respond to that “when the language of ‘traitor’ is heard in this House”.

Labour MP Stella Creasy said the Prime Minister’s conduct was “feeding a culture and a language that normalises extremism”.

Conservative MP Vicky Ford criticised MPs from all sides for “unacceptable language” and said some Leave supporters had to “pull nails and screws out of their car tyres last week”.

She also said to John Bercow: “Mr Speaker, please can you continue to make sure you’re fair and balanced because sometimes it doesn’t feel like this.”

Bercow later said it was “manifestly absurd” to suggest he was unfair given his approach in almost always calling everyone to speak in statements, something which previously did not happen.

Former Tory minister David Gauke said: “At best, the Prime Minister’s answers to some of the questions last night were deeply insensitive. But the concern that many of us have is that there is a deliberate strategy of division and confrontation.”

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Gauke asked for reassurance that the Conservative Party’s strategy is not to undermine the institutions “that protect the peace and stability of our citizens”.

Foster said the Conservatives will go into a General Election with a manifesto that “seeks to serve the country and unite the country”, but said a resolution needs to be reached in the Brexit process.

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Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith dismissed criticism of Johnson’s use of language and accused critics of trying to “stir this up”.

“I don’t think that what the Prime Minister said about the bill – and termed it a ‘surrender bill’ – is in any way an incitement,” he told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One.

“It is a statement of fact because it would surrender rights to the European Union.

“We didn’t want it, he doesn’t want it, but he is entitled to call it what he likes. It doesn’t incite anything else except debate.

“I think that those who want to try stir this up are people who don’t want to have that debate.”

Duncan Smith said Tory MPs attending a meeting of the backbench 1922 Committee had backed the Prime Minister’s approach.

“The Prime Minister was incredibly clear about what he was doing and he was fully supported by all those MPs in there,” he said.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said political parties were ignoring advice given to them after the referendum about ensuring debate is kept “respectful at all times”.

Commission chair David Isaac said: “Words have consequences and after the referendum, we wrote to all political parties reminding them of the need for respectful debate at all times – no matter how difficult the issues.

“Sadly, this has not happened. I urge all our politicians to show the best version of themselves so all views are heard.

“Hardline rhetoric and gestures only serve to create a more polarised society and will not heal the divisions that exist in our country.”

Johnson refused to apologise yesterday and ignored questions from journalists as he left a meeting of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers.