'More important than ever' to pull together, four years on from murder of Jo Cox MP

Four years on from the murder of Batley MP Jo Cox, it is “more important than ever” to pull together in compassion and kindness, her sister has said.
Batley MP Jo Cox. Picture: JPIMediaBatley MP Jo Cox. Picture: JPIMedia
Batley MP Jo Cox. Picture: JPIMedia

Kim Leadbeater, now a campaigner and an ambassador of the foundation that bears her sister’s name, has issued an impassioned plea for unity, an end to racism and call for a more connected society to end the loneliness felt by so many.

Ms Cox was just 41 years old when she was killed by far right terrorist Thomas Mair as she attended a constituency meeting in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

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In the wake of her death, a national commission was launched into loneliness and the Jo Cox Foundation, which works to build a fairer, kinder and more tolerant world, was founded.

Jo Cox, left, and her sister Kim Leadbeater.Jo Cox, left, and her sister Kim Leadbeater.
Jo Cox, left, and her sister Kim Leadbeater.

New research by the Connection Coalition, a band of 400 organisations brought together by the Foundation during lockdown, has shown a huge increase in the number of people who think we have become more caring as a result of the coronavirus epidemic.

The number of people who said we look after each other rose from less than a quarter to almost two-thirds between February and May.

Ms Leadbeater said that while she sometimes struggled to stay positive, “four years on since Jo's murder, despite feeling a huge amount of pain, and despite my feelings of frustration at how far we have yet to progress on some of the issues she cared about, I do continue to be inspired by how, when faced with tragedy and crisis, people often also show the best of humanity.”

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But, she asked: “In 2020 how can we still be living in a world where people are abused, attacked and killed because of the colour of their skin? How can we still be living in a world where we are supposedly better connected than ever yet so many people feel lonely? And how can so many of us still be so reluctant or unable to listen to other people's opinions in a civilised and respectful manner?”

She added: “I sometimes feel that I can’t really begin to deal with the grieving process while there is still so much work to be done on some of the issues Jo cared about during her life - and indeed the issues raised by her brutal murder at the hands of a right wing extremist and white supremacist.”

Next weekend, June 19 to 21, marks the fourth annual Great Get Together in memory of Ms Cox. Despite physical distancing meaning events will be quite different to previous years, people are still being encouraged to connect together in their shared values.

Ms Cox’s former constituency of Batley and Spen will lead the way with a multi-faith community service, a virtual Bake Off and lots of neighbourhood connections large and small.