Politicians put election campaigns on hold today to remember slain Labour MP Jo Cox
POLITICIANS from across the spectrum will call an election truce today to remember the murdered MP Jo Cox.
Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and other politicians will stop their campaigns for an hour in memory of the MP who was shot and stabbed to death last year.
The truce comes as Jo’s sister Kim revealed she feels guilty spending time with her niece and nephew in the wake of her death.
Jo’s widower, Brendan Cox, said the truce would send a “powerful message” of unity in the run-up to the anniversary of her death next month.
He added: “We really do hold more in common and show a united front against hatred and extremism in all its forms.
“Elections are huge moments of national importance and deserve to be taken seriously. But we also need to get a better balance.
“We spend way too much time fixated on the areas we disagree with each other and need to create more moments where we come together as a country.”
And he told Andrew Marr today that the trauma of his wife’s death “goes on and on” but their children are excited to be planning a party to remember their mum.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn paid tribute to her while speaking at an arts centre in Liverpool today.
And tweeted a video from her maiden speech in parliament where she made her famous words: “we have more in common than that which divides us”.
The mother-of-two was tragically killed the week before the EU referendum last year by right-wing extremist Thomas Mair.
He was handed a whole life sentence for her murder.
In Jo Cox’s former constituency of Batley in Spen in West Yorkshire, the Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and Green candidates will come together at a farmers event raising money for a special care baby unit this afternoon.
To mark the official anniversary of her death, Jo’s widower Brendan has organised The Great Get Together from June 16 to 18, which will see thousands of events take place to remember her.
He wants to encourage community groups to unite with street parties, picnics and coffee mornings.
Today Jo’s sister Kim Leadbeater revealed how she coped with her murder during an exclusive chat with Fabulous magazine.
She said she is overwhelmed with love for nephew Cuillin, six, and niece Lejla, four.
But she added: “There are times when I’m with them that are really difficult.
“Sometimes I will be just reading them a book and I’ll feel suddenly guilty, thinking to myself that Jo should be doing this with them, not me.
“But I know that she would want me to be there for all of those milestones, so I am and always will be. Jo was very clear that aunties should spoil the kids, so I do that all the time.”
Brendan is also writing a memoir about Jo’s life during his “sleepless nights”.