Family of murdered MP Jo Cox in tribute five years after her death
The family of MP Jo Cox is marking the fifth anniversary of her murder by saying they remain optimistic about a future where people recognise the things "we have in common".
The country was rocked when the 41-year-old Labour MP was shot and stabbed in her constituency by a far-right supporter on June 16, 2016.
Her sister Kim Leadbeater is standing as a Labour candidate in the Batley and Spen by-election, the constituency
Ms Cox represented, but will suspend campaigning on the anniversary of her murder.
A statement on behalf of the familysaid:"weallmissjoevery day. Her energy, warmth, passion, humour and love.
"She looked for and believed in the best of people and the best of our country, for what unites us, rather than where we disagree.
"We remain optimistic that her vision of a country where we are better at recognising what we have in common is gradually getting closer. The Jo Cox Foundation was set up after her murder.
The Scottish Government has confirmed that women who have had transvaginal mesh removed through private surgeries will be reimbursed for their costs.
New women’s health minister Maree Todd told MSPS a Bill would be brought forward “soon” to allow for the money to be paid to women who have been severely affected by mesh implants.
MSPS also voted unanimously for a Labour amendment to Ms Todd’s motion pledging to prioritise action on women’s health issues, which called for an acknowledgement of the "life-changing damage to women as the result of transvaginal mesh surgery” and for parliament to support the demand of the Scottish Mesh Survivors group for funding to be made available “to cover the costs of mesh removal for women having to undergo private surgery."
More than 20,000 women in Scotland have had the mesh implants in the past 20 years but some 600 have suffered agonising, debilitating complications, in what has been described by politicians as “the greatest health scandal of our times”.
Nicola Sturgeon has previously issued a formal apology on behalf of the Scottish Government to the thousands of women across Scotland who suffered as a result of having mesh implants, while in September 2018 the then Health Secretary ordered a halt to use of transvaginal mesh and said it would not be reintroduced.
During the debate in Holyrood, Ms Todd said: “On the issue of mesh... many of us have been aware of the challenges around that and just how profoundly it has impacted on the women affected.
“The Scottish Government committed in its 2021 manifesto to pursue the outcomes sought by the Scottish Mesh Survivors. The use of transvaginal mesh was formally halted in September 2018 and we continue that halt. Substantial progress has been made to improve services for women with complications – the new mesh removal service will be subject to continual improvement, informed by consultation with the patients and I hope that will go some way to rebuilding the trust that has been shattered with the women involved.”
She added: “There will be a bill introduced into parliament very soon which will allow reimbursement of women who have previously sought private mesh removal. Many of the asks these women have made of us we will be pursuing and I hope that will help to bring some closure for those most profoundly impacted.”
Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie, said that she welcomed Ms
Todd’s words, but raised the issue of a tender by leading US mesh removal surgeon, Dr Dionysios Veronikis, to carry out surgery on the women in pain.
She said the tender was made “three months ago and we haven’t heard anything yet. The women are desperate for this to happen, can she advise whether there will be progress quickly?”
Ms Todd answered: “Yes. NHS Scotland has invited tenders to allow appropriately qualified surgeons to allow mesh removal in patients where they want it, but a process is in place and we need to leave that to take its course.”