Honouring Jo

What a beautiful gesture by the people of Brussels, who dedicated a square yesterday to my friend Jo Cox – Jo Cox Place, or Plein, in the country’s two languages, French and Flemish.

In brilliant sunshine, Philippe Close, the Mayor of Brussels, said Jo had “died for a universal ideal which is yet so fragile that we have the duty to continue pursuing it”.

Before she was an MP, Jo lived in Brussels for six years working for the fearless Labour MEP Glenys Kinnock and for Oxfam. The square is a peaceful spot behind the Ancienne Belgique concert venue, where Jo used to go to gigs.

An acapella choir sang two songs – an anti-apartheid folk song, and the Balkan folk song Jo named the family houseboat after – Ederlezi.

I hope that, as well as sadness, her lovely family were bursting with pride.