Minister of loneliness appointed in Jo Cox tribute

THERESA MAY has appointed a “minister for loneliness” as part of the legacy of the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox.

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, will fill the newlycreated role of ministerial lead on loneliness to lead the Government’s work in tackling a problem believed to affect nine million people in Britain.

In December the Jo Cox Loneliness Commission, set up in Mrs Cox’s memory as an issue she was passionate about, published a report calling for action to combat loneliness.

Ahead of a Downing Street reception today to celebrate the life and legacy of Mrs Cox, the Prime Minister said she wanted to “shine a light” on loneliness.

She said: “For far too many people, loneliness is the sad reality of modern life. Jo Cox recognised the scale of loneliness across the country and dedicated herself to doing all she could to help those affected.

“I am pleased that Government can build on her legacy with a ministerial lead for loneliness who will work with the commission, businesses and charities to shine a light on the issue and pull together all strands of Government to create the first ever strategy.”

Mrs Cox was murdered in 2016 in her constituency of Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire by Thomas Mair, a white supremacist. She was 41 and left a husband and two young children.

The commission, co-chaired by Rachel Reeves, a Labour MP, and the Conservative MP Seema Kennedy, stated: “We are really pleased to see that the Government is taking the issue of loneliness very seriously with its prompt response to our report.”