Kim Leadbeater, the sister of murdered MP Jo Cox and Labour MP for Spen Valley, has said she cannot bring herself to watch her sister's 2015 maiden speech because it is too upsetting. Speaking to Metro, Leadbeater explained that while she finds comfort in looking at childhood photos of Cox, seeing her speak makes the loss feel real.
A Decade Since the Tragedy
It has been 10 years since Jo Cox was killed outside her constituency surgery by a right-wing extremist who shouted 'Britain first'. The murder shocked the nation just a week before the Brexit referendum. Leadbeater admits much of that period is a blur due to trauma and shock.
The Political Climate Then and Now
Leadbeater recalls the febrile nature of the Brexit debate before Cox's murder and the initial calls for more compassionate politics afterward. However, she laments that this spirit did not last long. She fears the country is 'almost forced to be divided' by media negativity and social media platforms that discourage nuance.
Remembering Jo Cox
Despite the pain, Leadbeater highlights the positive legacy of her sister. She points to the Jo Cox Award at local primary schools, a plaque at the hospital birthing unit, and the sixth form centre named after Cox. The Great Get Together events, organized by the Jo Cox Foundation, continue to bring communities together.
Leadbeater also shared a lesser-known side of Cox: she was shy as a child and worked hard to overcome it. This message resonated with schoolchildren at a recent Great Get Together gathering.
The anniversary comes amid ongoing political violence and division, but Leadbeater insists on remembering that 'really dreadful things happen, but often then lots of really good things happen.'
