‘Four years on from Jo’s murder, we still have far more in common than that which divides us ’
IT’S been four years since Labour MP Jo Cox was brutally murdered by a far-right terrorist in Birstall. Her sister Kim Leadbeater admits that she felt apprehensive about this year’s anniversary.
“It takes a lot to shake my determination to remain as optimistic as possible but four years on from Jo’s murder, I have to admit that I am struggling,” said Ms Leadbeater.
“I sometimes feel that I can’t even begin to deal with the grieving process while there is still so much work to be done on 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.”
Jo, who was the MP for Batley and Spen, was shot and stabbed on June 16, 2016 - just six days before her 42nd birthday.
“The anniversary feels very poignant this year and part of that is because we are surrounded by so much sadness and so much loss because of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Ms Leadbeater.
“When Jo was killed during the Brexit referendum, things were very toxic and the country was extremely divided. Sadly, we were probably just about finding a way through Brexit and then the pandemic hit,” said Ms Leadbeater.
Kim, who describes Jo as a passionate campaigner for equality and inclusivity, said her sister would be extremely impressed with how many people mobilised after George Floyd’s death.
“It’s very important to remember there is only a minority of
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