Woolwich: The British people – and our politicians – have risen to the occasion

“We want to start a war” – Woolwich attacker

“right now it is only you versus many people, you are going to lose” – Ingrid Loyau-Kennett

Only 24 hours ago, news began to trickle through about a barbarous crime, committed on the streets of our capital city, in broad daylight. It seems that the murderers who attacked and brutally murdered a soldier felt they were acting in a way endorsed by their religious beliefs and their god. But to try and divine reason from such monstrous acts is to try and read the minds of madmen.

The cause of this crime wasn’t Islam – but it was perhaps the warped justification. As George Eaton rightly noted over at the New Statesman earlier today, Muslims “bear no more responsibility for jihadism than Christians do for the Ku Klux Klan or the Westboro Baptist Church (or, more pertinently, than the English do for the EDL)”. Many British people of Muslim faith have sought to distance themselves from the lunatic horror conducted by the attackers, but they no more need to than I, or any other citizen does.

And speaking of British citizens, they have certainly risen to the occasion following the Woolwich atrocity. Whilst the EDL and the BNP tried to make sick political capital out of it, and another deeply deranged lunatic tried to attack a Mosque in Essex, the overwhelming majority of the public carried on regardless. And those who bore witness to the attack and its aftermath behaved more remarkably still – especially Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, whose remarkable eye witness report of the murder, and her immediate reaction to the attack, have been deservedly lauded.

Seeing the men with knifes, machetes and a meat cleaver, she got off her bus, and walked straight towards the attackers. Talked to them. Tried to distract them. Tried to keep others from harm. She gave no thought for her own safety as she acted instinctively to try and stop further carnage.

Her bravery – her immediate and impulsive bravery – is completely breathtaking. Whilst the debate rages over whether or not today’s front pages were appropriate (and for what it’s worth, I think they are exactly the sort of propaganda that the attackers wanted) – the photo I’d have liked to have seen gracing the front pages was that of her extreme bravery, rather than that of the savagery of the attackers.

That the situation has not spiralled out of control in the intervening twenty four hours – and become a “war”, as both murderers and the EDL might have wished – is something that our politicians, of all stripes, deserve credit for. I cannot fault David Cameron’s initial response to the attacks, his decision to return immediately to London or his statement today. All were steely, thoughtful and refused to speculate or knee jerk. Ed Miliband similarly handled himself in a way that was completely appropriate and supportive. Boris Johnson’s early appeal to avoid speculation was welcome, necessary and statesmanlike. And Nigel Farage – who I have often upbraided for his questionable rhetoric – was one of the first major politicians to call for calm and note that this was likely an isoltaed incident.

It is easy to sneer at politicians, question their motives and accuse them of countless venal, self-serving acts. God knows I do it every day. But yesterday, and today, they have helped set a public mood that is united against barbarism, stoic in the face of attack, and refuses to succumb to the hate, reprisal and outright war that was the intended aim of such a vile crime.

We should be proud to be British today. Proud that we have neither lurched for legislation or knee jerk attacks. Proud that the British people have carried on with their lives without fear. Proud of Ingrid Loyau-Kennett.

And proud too, of our politicians.