YP Comment: What politics must learn from Jo

MPs pay heartfelt tribute to lost colleague
A MP leaves a white rose on a tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox following a service of prayer and remembrance at St Margaret's Church, London.A MP leaves a white rose on a tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox following a service of prayer and remembrance at St Margaret's Church, London.
A MP leaves a white rose on a tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox following a service of prayer and remembrance at St Margaret's Church, London.

A WHITE rose lay on an empty chair in the House of Commons yesterday as party politics gave way to a unity of grief. Allegiances temporarily abandoned, the nation was treated to the sight of politicians from rival parties mingling together on the benches of the recalled ‘Mother of Parliaments’ as they followed the public’s lead in paying tribute to Jo Cox.

That white rose – worn in solidarity by every one of her colleagues – served as a striking symbol of this local girl’s pride in her Yorkshire roots and a love for her home county which translated into tireless work on behalf of her constituents in Batley and Spen. Tragically, hers was to prove a talent cut down in full bloom.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Initiated by Conservative Jason McCartney, the sight of MPs sitting cheek by jowl with their rivals was more than a mere touching gesture. It offered tacit acknowledgement that some of the events leading up to Mrs Cox’s murder had merely served to cheapen politics and demean those involved.

The actions of the person responsible for the death of this much-loved wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and champion of causes both local and universal lie beyond the wit of any right-thinking individual.

Yet, in an age of increasingly polarised views, the polemic that has been spouted during the EU referendum debate, together with the combative attitude of protagonists on both sides, has diminished the democratic process she was upholding when killed in cold blood outside a constituency surgery in Birstall last week.

Mrs Cox, helped by a background with Oxfam which had taught her the value of cooperation, cut through traditional party politics to forge significant cross-party alliances, most notably in her bid to secure help for the refugees of the conflict in Syria.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As the Prime Minister observed in his heartfelt tribute to her work, “there are people in our planet today who are only here and alive because of Jo.”

In her maiden speech as an MP a year ago, Mrs Cox had said: “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”

She was speaking of her multi-faith, multi-ethnic constituency, yet those words have taken on wider resonance in the aftermath of the appalling act that claimed her life.

And they were repeated on a number of occasions yesterday, as colleagues of every political hue paid tribute to her efforts both at home and abroad, not just as an MP but as a defender of humanity.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This Thursday’s vote on Europe is a matter of huge importance to Britain. Beliefs as to the most desirable outcome vary as widely in homes across the country as they do within the House of Commons.

Each individual is entitled to their own view and to vote which ever way they see fit. That is the basis of democracy.

Yet, as a democratic nation we have a duty too to respond to the senseless, outrageous killing of Mrs Cox with unity, rather than division, with hope rather than fear. In this, our political representatives should lead the way.

Certainly it would do wonders for democracy in this country if the respect and common ground across a range of issues expressed in the Commons yesterday could be shown more often.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As such, it was disappointing that Sayeeda Warsi chose the same day as Parliament’s tribute to Mrs Cox to announce her “defection” to the Remain camp, only for Leave campaigners to claim she had never allied herself with their position anyway.

Such manoeuvring and petty gamesmanship shows just how far British politics has to go in order to create a fitting legacy to Jo Cox and all she stood for.

It was said yesterday that Mrs Cox believed in a better world and fought for it every day of her life. Greater tolerance within the realm of political debate would go a long way to achieving that.

Where’s summer?

Rain dampens solstice

THE BANKS of cloud stationed above swathes of the region may not have made it immediately obvious, but yesterday marked the summer solstice – the longest day of the year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In this leaden-skied June, however, the benefits were thin to say the least. The chance of an extra few moments spent shivering outside was hardly going to excite the senses.

Those gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the occasion were hoping the clouds would give way just enough to allow a glimpse of a rare phenomenon: a strawberry moon – a full moon that marks the start of the strawberry season – coinciding with the solstice for the first time in almost 50 years.

Fifty miles away at the site of the Glastonbury Festival, where the likes of Coldplay and Adele will perform this weekend, areas were under at least a foot of water.

The solstice is supposedly the high point of summer. Yet most of us are left wondering when it will actually start.