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| Cross-party unity to be main theme at MPs' memorial service to Jo Cox | Cross-party unity to be main theme at MPs' memorial service to Jo Cox |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MPs will form a procession of cross-party unity as they head to a church service after paying tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox in the House of Commons. | MPs will form a procession of cross-party unity as they head to a church service after paying tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox in the House of Commons. |
| Each MP will be paired with another from a rival party as they walk from the chamber to St Margaret’s church in Westminster on Monday. | |
| They will gather in the House of Commons at 2.30pm and spend about 90 minutes honouring Cox, who was fatally shot and stabbed outside her constituency surgery on Thursday. | They will gather in the House of Commons at 2.30pm and spend about 90 minutes honouring Cox, who was fatally shot and stabbed outside her constituency surgery on Thursday. |
| There has been talk of MPs mingling on the green benches with those from rival parties in a show of cross-party cooperation that would be a break from convention. | There has been talk of MPs mingling on the green benches with those from rival parties in a show of cross-party cooperation that would be a break from convention. |
| Jason McCartney, the Conservative MP for Colne Valley, said he asked Labour MP Paula Sherriff whether he could sit next to her on the Labour benches as a tribute to Cox’s cross-party work. | Jason McCartney, the Conservative MP for Colne Valley, said he asked Labour MP Paula Sherriff whether he could sit next to her on the Labour benches as a tribute to Cox’s cross-party work. |
| “I thought it would be really nice to show that kind of unity this afternoon in the House of Commons and show people we can work together across party, because that’s what Jo actually did,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. | “I thought it would be really nice to show that kind of unity this afternoon in the House of Commons and show people we can work together across party, because that’s what Jo actually did,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. |
| He added: “I spoke to Paula Sherriff, the Labour MP for Dewsbury, last night. We have each other’s mobile phone numbers, we talk to each other all the time, and I actually asked if I could go and sit next to her. In our part of Yorkshire it has hit us really really hard. We are an incredibly close-knit group of MPs across all parties.” | He added: “I spoke to Paula Sherriff, the Labour MP for Dewsbury, last night. We have each other’s mobile phone numbers, we talk to each other all the time, and I actually asked if I could go and sit next to her. In our part of Yorkshire it has hit us really really hard. We are an incredibly close-knit group of MPs across all parties.” |
| However, Labour has decided against widespread cross-bench mingling as many of the party’s MPs wanted to sit with their friends for support, although it is possible some could do so of their own accord. | However, Labour has decided against widespread cross-bench mingling as many of the party’s MPs wanted to sit with their friends for support, although it is possible some could do so of their own accord. |
| Instead, they will partner with MPs from the opposite benches as they proceed to the service at about 4pm. | Instead, they will partner with MPs from the opposite benches as they proceed to the service at about 4pm. |
| Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday it would be a “dignified occasion, not a time for lots of long speeches”. | |
| “An MP has died,” he said. “It’s an attack on all of us. In her memory we have to create a more tolerant society. In her memory we have to reach out.” | “An MP has died,” he said. “It’s an attack on all of us. In her memory we have to create a more tolerant society. In her memory we have to reach out.” |
| MPs are also discussing a permanent memorial to Cox in parliament. Those who died in the first and second world wars, as well as murdered MPs Airey Neave and Ian Gow, have been remembered with plaques in the Commons chamber. | MPs are also discussing a permanent memorial to Cox in parliament. Those who died in the first and second world wars, as well as murdered MPs Airey Neave and Ian Gow, have been remembered with plaques in the Commons chamber. |
| Chris Grayling, the leader of the House of Commons, said he expected a shield for Cox to be mounted on the wall in keeping with this tradition. | Chris Grayling, the leader of the House of Commons, said he expected a shield for Cox to be mounted on the wall in keeping with this tradition. |
| He told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics: “It has been the tradition that when a member of parliament has lost their life in the course of their duties they have been commemorated with a shield on the walls of the House of Commons chamber. | He told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics: “It has been the tradition that when a member of parliament has lost their life in the course of their duties they have been commemorated with a shield on the walls of the House of Commons chamber. |
| “It is obviously what her family wishes and it would be something that should be considered … What she did in her short time as a member of parliament, but also the symbolism that she stands for of free speech and democracy, should I think be marked. But the conventional way has been in the House of Commons chamber and that is certainly something I want to see discussed.” | “It is obviously what her family wishes and it would be something that should be considered … What she did in her short time as a member of parliament, but also the symbolism that she stands for of free speech and democracy, should I think be marked. But the conventional way has been in the House of Commons chamber and that is certainly something I want to see discussed.” |
| Others have suggested a memorial outside of the chamber as well, such as a statue on the banks of the Thames. | Others have suggested a memorial outside of the chamber as well, such as a statue on the banks of the Thames. |
| George Osborne, the chancellor, backed the idea but said it would be up to Cox’s family to decide. | George Osborne, the chancellor, backed the idea but said it would be up to Cox’s family to decide. |
| Friends of Cox will also remember and celebrate her life at rallies across the world on Wednesday – the day that would have been her 42nd birthday. | Friends of Cox will also remember and celebrate her life at rallies across the world on Wednesday – the day that would have been her 42nd birthday. |
| Although this is the day before the EU referendum, the events will not have a narrow political focus but will aim to provide a show of unity to the world. The theme is taken from Cox’s maiden speech to parliament in which she said: “We have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.” | Although this is the day before the EU referendum, the events will not have a narrow political focus but will aim to provide a show of unity to the world. The theme is taken from Cox’s maiden speech to parliament in which she said: “We have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.” |
| Events will be held in several locations simultaneously, including her constituency of Batley and Spen, London, Brussels, New York, Washington DC and Nairobi. | Events will be held in several locations simultaneously, including her constituency of Batley and Spen, London, Brussels, New York, Washington DC and Nairobi. |
| The main event will be in Trafalgar Square in London at 4pm, where organisers said people will “come together to celebrate what Jo’s warmth, love, energy, passion, flair, Yorkshire heritage and belief in the humanity of every person in every place, from Batley and Spen to Aleppo and Daraya”. | The main event will be in Trafalgar Square in London at 4pm, where organisers said people will “come together to celebrate what Jo’s warmth, love, energy, passion, flair, Yorkshire heritage and belief in the humanity of every person in every place, from Batley and Spen to Aleppo and Daraya”. |
| The gathering will also be proceeded by a floating commemoration on the Thames in a reference to Cox having made her home in London on a houseboat with her husband, Brendan, and their children. | The gathering will also be proceeded by a floating commemoration on the Thames in a reference to Cox having made her home in London on a houseboat with her husband, Brendan, and their children. |