Jo Cox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jo Cox
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Cox, c. 2015
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| Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen |
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| In office 7 May 2015 – 16 June 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Wood |
| Succeeded by | Tracy Brabin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Helen Joanne Leadbeater
22 June 1974 Batley, West Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 16 June 2016 (aged 41) Birstall, West Yorkshire, England |
| Cause of death | Murder (gunshot wounds, stab wounds) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse |
Brendan Cox
(m. 2009) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Kim Leadbeater (sister) |
| Alma mater | |
Helen Joanne Cox (born Leadbeater; 22 June 1974 – 16 June 2016) was a British politician. She was a member of the Labour Party. From May 2015 until her death in June 2016, she served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Batley and Spen.
Jo Cox was born in Batley, West Yorkshire. She studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge. Before becoming an MP, she worked for the international charity Oxfam. She became head of policy and advocacy at Oxfam GB in 2005.
In 2015, she was chosen to run for the Batley and Spen seat. She won the election, increasing the Labour Party's majority. Jo Cox was a strong supporter of helping people affected by the Syrian civil war. She also started a group called Friends of Syria.
On 16 June 2016, Jo Cox was attacked and killed in Birstall. She was on her way to meet with people from her local area. A man named Thomas Mair was found guilty of her murder. He was sentenced to prison for the rest of his life.
In July 2021, Jo Cox's sister, Kim Leadbeater, was elected as the Labour MP for Batley and Spen. This happened after a special election.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joanne Leadbeater was born on 22 June 1974 in Batley, West Yorkshire, England. Her mother, Jean, was a school secretary. Her father, Gordon, worked in a factory that made toothpaste.
She grew up in Heckmondwike and went to Heckmondwike Grammar School. She was the head girl there. During her summer holidays, she worked packing toothpaste. Jo Cox studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and later at the London School of Economics.
Helping People Around the World
After university, Jo Cox worked as an adviser for a Labour MP from 1995 to 1997. She then worked for a group that supported Europe. Later, she moved to Brussels to work for a Member of the European Parliament.
From 2001 to 2009, Jo Cox worked for the aid group Oxfam. She led campaigns to help people in need. She worked in Brussels, London, and New York City. Her work for Oxfam took her to places like Darfur and Afghanistan. Meeting people there shaped her ideas about politics.
After Oxfam, Jo Cox advised Sarah Jane Brown, the wife of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. She helped with a campaign to prevent deaths during pregnancy and childbirth. She also worked for Save the Children and other charities. In 2013, she started UK Women, a group focused on helping women in the UK.
Her Work in Parliament
In 2015, Jo Cox was chosen by the Labour Party to run for MP in Batley and Spen. She won the election with a large number of votes.
On 3 June 2015, she gave her first speech in the House of Commons. She talked about the different cultures in her area. She also spoke about the economic challenges faced by her community. She asked the government to help improve the local economy.
Standing Up for Syria
Jo Cox strongly supported finding a solution to the Syrian Civil War. In October 2015, she wrote an article with another MP. They argued that British forces could help create safe places for civilians in Syria.
She also started a group called Friends of Syria. This group brought together MPs from different parties. In December, when Parliament voted on military action in Syria, Jo Cox did not vote. She believed that any action should be part of a bigger plan. She wanted to help all victims of the conflict.
In February 2016, Jo Cox nominated the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, for the Nobel Peace Prize. She praised these volunteers for risking their lives to help others. Many MPs and famous people supported her nomination.
Jo Cox also spoke out against the blockade of Gaza. She believed people had the right to boycott companies they felt were unethical. She worked on a report about hatred against Muslims in the UK.
Before her death, she was campaigning for the UK to remain in the European Union. After she died, the campaign for the EU referendum was stopped for a day. This was done to show respect for her.
Her Personal Life
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Jo Cox was married to Brendan Cox from 2009 until her death in 2016. Brendan was an adviser on international development. They met while she was working for Oxfam. They had two children together.
The Cox family lived in their home in her local area. They also had a houseboat on the Thames river in London. Jo Cox believed in humanism and was a member of trade unions.
Her Death
On 16 June 2016, Jo Cox was attacked outside a library in Birstall, West Yorkshire. She was going to hold a meeting there. She was shot and stabbed. A 77-year-old man, Bernard Kenny, was also stabbed while trying to help her.
The attacker, Thomas Mair, was arrested. Police said that Jo Cox was the victim of a "targeted attack." They looked into Mair's links to extreme right-wing views.
Jo Cox died from her injuries shortly after being taken to the hospital. She was the first sitting MP to be killed since 1990. Many people around the world expressed sadness and anger about her death.
On 23 November 2016, Thomas Mair was found guilty of her murder. He was also found guilty of stabbing Bernard Kenny. Mair was sentenced to prison for the rest of his life.
Her Legacy
After Jo Cox's death, her husband set up a fundraising page. It raised money for charities that were important to her. These included the Royal Voluntary Service, Hope not Hate, and the White Helmets. Over £1 million was raised very quickly.
Musicians recorded an album of live performances from the Glastonbury Festival in her memory. The money from the album went to Oxfam to help refugees.
On 22 June, which would have been her birthday, a special event was held in Trafalgar Square. Many people, including her husband and famous figures, spoke there.
A special election was held in Batley and Spen on 20 October 2016. Other major political parties did not run candidates out of respect. Labour candidate Tracy Brabin won the election.
One year after her death, three people who helped her were honored. Bernard Kenny, who tried to stop the attacker, received the George Medal for bravery. Two police officers who arrested the attacker received the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
Continuing Her Work
In December 2016, a group of politicians and musicians recorded a song. It was a cover of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones. All the money from the song went to the Jo Cox Foundation.
The musician Peter Gabriel wrote a song called "Love Can Heal" and dedicated it to Jo Cox. He performed it on his tours.
In May 2017, a memorial designed by Jo Cox's children was unveiled in the House of Commons. This was part of the first "Great Get Together" event. This event was held by the Jo Cox Foundation.
In June 2017, her husband Brendan published a book called Jo Cox: More In Common. It talks about how her death affected their family. Also in June 2017, her family and friends asked people to take part in "The Great Get Together." This weekend of events celebrated her life with picnics and concerts.
A street in Avallon, France, was renamed Rue Jo Cox in May 2017. In Brussels, a square was renamed the Place Jo Cox/Jo Coxplein in September 2018.
Her university, Pembroke College, created a special scholarship in her name. It helps students studying refugees and migration.
In 2020, the President of the European Parliament ended a speech by quoting Jo Cox. Her famous words were: "We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us."
In 2021, Tracy Brabin became the Mayor of West Yorkshire. This meant she had to step down as MP. Jo Cox's sister, Kim Leadbeater, then ran for the Batley and Spen seat. She won the election on 2 July 2021.
Her Coat of Arms
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On 24 June 2017, a special coat of arms was unveiled for Jo Cox. Her children helped design it. It is placed in the House of Commons to honor MPs who died in office.
The coat of arms has four roses. Two white roses represent Yorkshire, and two red roses represent the Labour Party. These roses stand for Jo Cox, her husband, and their two children. The colors green, purple, and white were used by the British suffragette movement.
The motto on the coat of arms is "More in Common." This comes from her first speech in Parliament. She said: "We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us."
See also
- List of serving British MPs who were assassinated
- David Amess – Conservative MP who was killed in 2021 while meeting people in his area.
