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MPs pay tribute to Jo Cox's 'humanity, compassion and irrepressible spirit' MPs pay tribute to Jo Cox's 'humanity, compassion and irrepressible spirit'
(about 2 hours later)
Jo Cox’s “extraordinary humanity and compassion” and “irrepressible spirit” has been honoured in parliament by the Labour leader, the prime minister, and colleagues and friends across the house, who promised to carry on the politician’s tireless campaigning work. The late Jo Cox has been praised for her “extraordinary humanity and compassion” and “irrepressible spirit”, in a moving session of parliament during which some MPs broke down in tears.
In a moving session during which some MPs broke down in tears, Jeremy Corbyn said the death of his colleague should mark the start of a “kinder and gentler politics”, arguing that all politicians had a duty “not to whip up hatred” in the wake of her murder. Jeremy Corbyn said the death of his colleague should mark the start of a “kinder and gentler politics”, arguing that all politicians had a duty “not to whip up hatred”.
He argued that the Labour MP had been killed in what appeared to be an act of “extreme political violence”. He said the Labour MP had been killed in what appeared to be an act of “extreme political violence”.
“Jo Cox didn’t just believe in loving her neighbour but her neighbour’s neighbour. She saw a world of neighbours and believed that everyone counted equally,” said Corbyn. “Jo Cox didn’t just believe in loving her neighbour but her neighbour’s neighbour. She saw a world of neighbours and believed that everyone counted equally,” the Labour leader said.
The party leader praised the MP for speaking out for refugees, for the Palestinian people and against Islamophobia. He praised Cox for having spoken out for refugees, for the Palestinian people and against Islamophobia. “Her integrity and talent was known to everyone in this house,” he said.
“Her integrity and talent was known to everyone in this house.” Corbyn was followed by David Cameron, who said Cox’s boundless energy had “lit up the lives of all who her and saved the lives of many she never met”.
Corbyn was followed by Cameron, who told MPs that her boundless energy had “lit up the lives of all who her and saved the lives of many she never met”. “She was a humanitarian to her core, a passionate and brilliantcampaigner whose grit and determination saw her time and time again driving issues up the agenda and making people listen and act,” he said.
“She was a humanitarian to her core, a passionate and brilliantcampaigner whose grit and determination saw her time and time again driving issues up the agenda and making people listen and act,” he said, watched by MPs wearing the white rose of Yorkshire on their lapels. The prime minister praised Cox’s work in drawing attention to conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, exposing “the despicable practice of rape in war”, cutting mortality in childbirth and supporting refugees fleeing war-torn Syria.
The prime minister praised her work draw attention to conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, exposing “the despicable practice of rape in war”, cutting mortality in childbirth, supporting refugees fleeing war-torn Syria. “There are people on our planet today who are only here and alive because of Jo,” he said, calling her a committed democrat and passionate feminist.
“There are people on our planet today who are only here and alive because of Jo,” he said, calling her a committed democrat and passionate feminist. Both he and Corbyn also paid credit to 77-year-old Bernard Kenny, who was injured trying to help Cox when she was attacked. He and Corbyn also paid tribute to 77-year-old Bernard Kenny, who was injured trying to help Cox when she was attacked.
MPs wore the white rose of Yorkshire on their lapels in memory of Cox, who was the MP for Batley and Spen.
‘Died doing the job she loved’‘Died doing the job she loved’
The tributes included warm descriptions of Cox’s humour and fun from friends on the Labour side, including Rachel Reeves, and on the Conservative side, where Andrew Mitchell spoke of their united work on the issue of conflict in Syria. The tributes included warm descriptions of Cox’s humour from friends on the Labour side, including Rachel Reeves. On the Conservative side, Andrew Mitchell spoke of their united work on the issue of conflict in Syria.
Reeves described sitting in a coffee shop in Cox’s constituency of Batley and Spen, less than 24 hours after the murder, and speaking to a woman who said she did not know Cox, but wished she was more like her. Reeves described sitting in a coffee shop in Cox’s constituency less than 24 hours after the killing and speaking to a woman who said she had not known Cox but wished she was more like her.
“A better person, mother, daughter, wife. It is ironic that after travelling the world to some of the most damaged, war ravaged places, Jo died so near to her home. But she died doing the job that she loved, in the place that she loved, representing the people she loved,” said Reeves, who said it fell on parliament’s shoulders to carry on her work. “A better person, mother, daughter, wife. It is ironic that after travelling the world to some of the most damaged, war-ravaged places, Jo died so near to her home. But she died doing the job that she loved, in the place that she loved, representing the people she loved,” said Reeves, who said it fell on parliament’s shoulders to carry on her work.
Mitchell said Cox wouldn’t have wanted the “vile and unspeakable” act to stop the open relationship that MPs have with constituents. Mitchell said Cox would not have wanted the “vile and unspeakable” act of her killing to damage the relationship between MPs and constituents.
And Stephen Kinnock, who shared an office with Cox, commented on the political context of the killing, which came after Nigel Farage unveiled a poster that had the words “breaking point” over a picture of fleeing refugees. Stephen Kinnock, who shared an office with Cox, commented on the political context of the killing, which happened on the same day that Nigel Farage unveiled a poster with the words “breaking point” over a picture of fleeing refugees.
“I can only imagine Jo’s reaction had she seen the poster unveiled hours before her death. A poster on the streets of Britain that demonised hundreds of desperate refugees including hungry terrified children feeling from the terror of Isis and Russian bombs,” he said. “I can only imagine Jo’s reaction had she seen the poster unveiled hours before her death. A poster on the streets of Britain that demonised hundreds of desperate refugees including hungry, terrified children fleeing from the terror of Isis and Russian bombs,” he said.
“She would have responded with outrage and a robust rejection of the calculated narrative of cynicism, division and despair that it represents. Jo understood that rhetoric has consequences.”“She would have responded with outrage and a robust rejection of the calculated narrative of cynicism, division and despair that it represents. Jo understood that rhetoric has consequences.”
The tributes poured in after an introduction by the Speaker, John Bercow, who said Cox was someone who “was determined to live life to the full”. He said the attack had struck “not only at an individual, but at our freedom”.The tributes poured in after an introduction by the Speaker, John Bercow, who said Cox was someone who “was determined to live life to the full”. He said the attack had struck “not only at an individual, but at our freedom”.
Cox’s friend Alison McGovern said that when she spoke, people listened.
‘More in common’‘More in common’
She joined Corbyn and the prime minister in quoting the maiden speech delivered by Cox when she arrived in parliament. “While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us,” Cox said. Cox’s friend Alison McGovern said that when Cox spoke, people listened. She joined Corbyn and Cameron in quoting from the maiden speech delivered by Cox when she arrived in parliament. “While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us,” Cox had said.
McGovern called for Cox’s own words to ring out. The phrase, “more in common” - has been placed at the heart of the attempt to build a legacy for the MP by her closest friends and family, which will begin this week. The phrase “more in common” has been placed at the heart of attempts by friends and family to build a legacy for the MP.
On Wednesday, the day that should have marked Cox’s 42nd birthday, there will be a global celebration of her life and values that will call for people to unite against hatred and division. Harriet Harman, who has been at the forefront of the women’s rights movement inside the Labour party, spoke of Cox chairing the party women’s network. “So many Labour women in this chamber and who are so deeply mourning her loss were women she helped,” Harman said.
They have now raised close to £1m for three charities dedicated to causes that were close to Cox’s heart, the Royal Voluntary Service, supporting people suffering from loneliness, Hope not Hate, challenging extremism, and the White Helmets, for rescue workers in Syria. She recalled Cox arriving for a meeting once with her baby son. “I remember it because she literally didn’t stop kissing him all the way through the meeting.” Harman said there was no dividing line between Cox’s maternal and political heart. “Her children will grow up to know what an amazing woman their mother was,” she added.
Monday’s session in parliament followed a meeting convened by the leader of the House of Commons, Chris Grayling, and the home secretary, Theresa May, in which MPs warned of cases of stalkers and harassment, and called for better security as they carried out their jobs. Holly Lynch, the MP for Halifax, near Cox’s constituency, said Cox was the “very best of us”.
A source said that there was recognition of a need for a greater coordination between house authorities and the police, and for improvements to the “cumbersome and slow implementation” of a parliamentary system through which MPs could apply for security measures. “She may well have been small but in politics as in life she packed a punch beyond measure,” Lynch told the house. “She had a clarity about what she was here to achieve and was not going to waste any time getting on with it.”
She called Cox a “daughter of Yorkshire” who fought tirelessly for those who put their faith in her. “I will remember Jo in the voting lobbies in her cycling gear and trainers leaving us all to wonder where did she find the energy. I will remember her warmth, spirit and her laugh.”
Earlier, at a meeting convened by the leader of the House of Commons, Chris Grayling, and the home secretary, Theresa May, MPs warned of cases of stalkers and harassment and called for better security as they carried out their jobs.
A source said there was recognition of a need for a greater coordination between house authorities and the police, and for improvements to the “cumbersome and slow implementation” of a parliamentary system through which MPs could apply for security measures.