This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/18/brendan-cox-resigns-from-charities-amid-sexual-assault-claims

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Brendan Cox resigns from charities amid sexual assault claims Brendan Cox resigns from charities amid sexual assault claims
(about 3 hours later)
Husband of murdered MP denies allegations but admits ‘mistakes’ while at Save the ChildrenHusband of murdered MP denies allegations but admits ‘mistakes’ while at Save the Children
Alexandra ToppingAlexandra Topping
Sun 18 Feb 2018 10.03 GMT Sun 18 Feb 2018 13.03 GMT
Last modified on Sun 18 Feb 2018 10.12 GMT First published on Sun 18 Feb 2018 10.03 GMT
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
View more sharing optionsView more sharing options
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
CloseClose
The husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox has resigned from the two charities he set up in her memory after being publicly accused of sexual assault.The husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox has resigned from the two charities he set up in her memory after being publicly accused of sexual assault.
Brendan Cox has stepped down from his posts at More in Common and the Jo Cox Foundation after allegations, printed in the Mail on Sunday, that he assaulted a woman in her 30s at Harvard University in 2015. Police filed her complaint as “assault and battery” but action against him was dropped. Brendan Cox has stepped down from his posts at More in Common and the Jo Cox Foundation after allegations, printed in the Mail on Sunday, that he assaulted a woman in her 30s at Harvard University in 2015. Police filed her complaint as assault and battery, but action against him was dropped.
Cox said it had become “much more difficult” to focus on his charity work after the allegations came to light. In a statement issued on Saturday, he denied the claims but admitted making “mistakes” in a previous role with the charity Save the Children. Cox denied the claims in a statement issued on Saturday, but admitted making mistakes in a previous role with the charity Save the Children.
“I want to apologise deeply and unreservedly for my past behaviour and for the hurt and offence that I have caused,” he said in the statement. “In the aftermath of Jo’s murder, I promised that I would dedicate my life to two things, firstly loving and protecting our children and secondly fighting the hatred that killed Jo.“I want to apologise deeply and unreservedly for my past behaviour and for the hurt and offence that I have caused,” he said in the statement. “In the aftermath of Jo’s murder, I promised that I would dedicate my life to two things, firstly loving and protecting our children and secondly fighting the hatred that killed Jo.
“In the last few days allegations from several years ago have resurfaced that makes concentrating on both of those tasks much more difficult. For that reason, while away over half-term, I decided to step down from my current public roles for the time being.”“In the last few days allegations from several years ago have resurfaced that makes concentrating on both of those tasks much more difficult. For that reason, while away over half-term, I decided to step down from my current public roles for the time being.”
Jo Cox, a Labour MP, was shot and stabbed outside her constituency office in West Yorkshire by a far-right extremist during the EU referendum campaign in June 2016.Jo Cox, a Labour MP, was shot and stabbed outside her constituency office in West Yorkshire by a far-right extremist during the EU referendum campaign in June 2016.
In the statement, Cox added: “While I do not accept the allegations contained in the 2015 complaint to the police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I do acknowledge and understand that during my time at Save the Children I made mistakes.” In the statement, Cox said: “While I do not accept the allegations contained in the 2015 complaint to the police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I do acknowledge and understand that during my time at Save the Children I made mistakes.”
Cox, who married his wife in 2009, was reported to police in Massachusetts in the US in 2015 for “inappropriate touching” while on a trip to Harvard. A woman alleged he had bought her drinks, grabbed her hips and and forced his thumb into her mouth in a sexual manner, the Mail on Sunday reported. Cox denied the accusations and called some of the allegations against him a “massive exaggeration” but said that in his previous role at Save the Children he had “overstepped the line”. Cox, who married his wife in 2009, was reported to police in Massachusetts in the US in 2015 for inappropriate touching while on a trip to Harvard. A woman alleged he had bought her drinks, grabbed her hips and and forced his thumb into her mouth in a sexual manner, the Mail on Sunday reported. Cox denied the accusations and called some of the allegations against him a “massive exaggeration”.
Jo Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater said in a statement on Sunday that it was another very difficult day for the family but that they would support Cox. “My priority is and always will be looking after Jo and Brendan’s children and supporting my parents, who have already been through so much,” she said. “As a family we will support Brendan as he endeavours to do the right thing by admitting mistakes he may have made in the past, and we respect him for doing so. We all make mistakes. Brendan is a wonderful father and I have no doubt about the happiness he brought to Jo.”
Leadbeater said she would also continue the work of More in Common and The Jo Cox Foundation. “I have a fantastic team of people who have supported me so far and I know they will continue to do so as we focus on creating a positive legacy for Jo,” she said.
The Mail on Sunday reported in 2015 that Cox had stepped down from his position as chief strategist after allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” before a misconduct hearing.The Mail on Sunday reported in 2015 that Cox had stepped down from his position as chief strategist after allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” before a misconduct hearing.
Reflecting on his past behaviour in an interview with the MoS, he apologised for any “hurt and offence” caused. “Certainly, I had too much to drink at times. I probably behaved in a way I thought was sort of jokey or flirtatious. I often wasn’t being serious, but that was perceived differently by others,” he said. Reflecting on his past behaviour in an interview with the MoS, he apologised for any hurt and offence caused. “Certainly, I had too much to drink at times. I probably behaved in a way I thought was sort of jokey or flirtatious. I often wasn’t being serious, but that was perceived differently by others,” he said.
“There was never any malice; any intention to upset or offend people. But the bigger picture is that you do have to face up to how you make people feel, not just what your intention was. I didn’t reflect on it – that’s not a defence, it’s a failing. It’s not good enough.” “There was never any malice, any intention to upset or offend people. But the bigger picture is that you do have to face up to how you make people feel, not just what your intention was. I didn’t reflect on it – that’s not a defence, it’s a failing. It’s not good enough.”
Jo CoxJo Cox
CharitiesCharities
Voluntary sectorVoluntary sector
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content