A plea to pull together on anniversary of Cox’s death
Four years on, sister of murdered MP speaks of her grief, her memories and a legacy of pride
FOUR YEARS on from the murder of Yorkshire MP Jo Cox, it is “more important than ever” to pull together in compassion and kindness, her sister has said.
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, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, 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.
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.
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.”
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
I continue to be inspired by how people often show the best of humanity.
Kim Leadbeater, Jo Cox’s sister and ambassador of The Jo Cox Foundation.
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.”
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 her name on the fourth anniversary of her death.
Mrs Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen and a motherof-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 parents Gordon and Jean.
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.
“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 overanalysing 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.
“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.
“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. What I’m really proud of is the work that has been done in Jo’s name in that time.
“So many people have supported us as a family but they have also supported the issues that Jo cared so passionately about. “
As well as her work for the Jo Cox Foundation, Miss Leadbeater 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.
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.
“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.”
Mrs Cox’s son Cuillin is aged nine and her daughter Lejla is seven. Miss Leadbeater 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.”
It will be a difficult day, but every day is difficult at the moment.
Kim Leadbeater, younger sister of murdered MP Jo Cox.