Sister of Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox says her murder four years ago today in Birstall 'still doesn't feel real.'

The sister of Jo Cox  has spoken of her grief, her happy childhood memories and the pride she feels about the positive work being done in Jo's name on the fourth anniversary of her death.
Kim Leadbeater (left) pictured with her sister Jo CoxKim Leadbeater (left) pictured with her sister Jo Cox
Kim Leadbeater (left) pictured with her sister Jo Cox

Jo Cox, The Labour MP for Batley and Spen and mother-of-two was murdered aged 41 by right-wing terrorist Thomas Mair outside Birstall Library on June 16, 2016.

Her younger sister Kim Leadbeater, who is an ambassador for the Jo Cox Foundation, planned to work this morning before spending time with dad Gordon and mum Jean.

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She said: "We are going to go for a walk and have a socially distanced afternoon tea together to remember Jo, because she liked a cream tea.

Kim Leadbeater pictured with parents Gordon and Jean in 2018Kim Leadbeater pictured with parents Gordon and Jean in 2018
Kim Leadbeater pictured with parents Gordon and Jean in 2018

"It will be a difficult day, but to be honest every day is difficult at the moment.

"With the coronavirus pandemic, you have got the valuable time to reflect. But sometimes that can be difficult as well because you can end up over analysing things and thinking about things too much and that can be challenging.

"I think about Jo all the time, it doesn’t matter the circumstances or the situation.

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"I’m very clear that even though we are four years down the line I still can’t believe what happened and that Jo got murdered.

Jo CoxJo Cox
Jo Cox

"It still just doesn’t feel real and I don’t know if it ever will - and I don’t know if I ever want it to.

"Jo worked in all sorts of war zones and in some of the most difficult countries in the world.

"To get killed in the local area where we grew up is something that we really are struggling with as a family.

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"What I’m really proud of is the work that has been done in Jo’s name in that time.

Kim LeadbeaterKim Leadbeater
Kim Leadbeater

"So many people have supported us as a family but they have also supported the issues that Jo cared so passionately about. "

The Jo Cox Foundation, which was established in 2016, continues to build a positive legacy for Jo and to create something positive from the tragedy.

In 2018, the Government set up a Loneliness Commission in Jo’s name along with a Minister for Loneliness and the world's first government strategy on loneliness.

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The Great Get Together, which was also set up in Jo's memory, will go ahead this year with some modifications.

This weekend - June 19 to 21 - will see the fourth Great Get Together, which was started in response to Jo's much-quoted message in her maiden Commons speech that “we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us”.

This year will be a virtual bake-off and a multi-faith service.

As well as her work for the Jo Cox Foundation, Kim is a volunteer for More in Common Batley and Spen, who have created a 'Connection Coalition’ in a bid to prevent loneliness during the Covid-19 lockdown.

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Kim said: "Grief is complicated. I know that the way that I have coped is by keeping myself extremely busy and doing things that I know Jo would be proud of and also that the country has needed in the last few years.

"We continue to go through some very difficult and very divisive times.

"It's really important to me to use Jo's foundation as a power to do good, as a tool to try and change things for the better.

"Wherever I go there will be somebody Who has met Jo or has been hugely influenced by her and often changed something about their lives as a result of knowing Jo or being influenced by her.

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"We had a very special childhood. We were very close as kids and I just have lots of happy childhood memories of dancing to Fame, playing out and family holidays."

Kim said Jo's son Cuillin is aged nine and her daughter Lejla is seven.

Kim said: "I also have special memories of her with her children and her encouraging me to be an aunty who spoils them at every opportunity, which I continue to do. "

"They are having lots of adventures because they are not in school. Cuillin is not in a rush to go back to school but Lejla can’t wait to go back, she really wants to do her SATs."

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