JO COX'S SISTER URGES UNITY A DECADE AFTER MP'S MURDER

Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Spen Valley, has reflected on the tenth anniversary of her sister Jo Cox's murder outside her constituency surgery in Birstall. Jo Cox was killed in the run-up to the EU referendum a decade ago today. Kim Leadbeater stated that she entered a period of "autopilot" following the attack, during which she focused on supporting her parents and Jo's children whilst managing the intense public attention surrounding the tragedy.

Leadbeater described the immediate aftermath as largely a blur, though she remembers receiving a phone call about the incident whilst out for a run. She characterised her subsequent entry into Parliament, following the vacancy of the Batley and Spen seat, as fulfilling her sister's belief that "politics needs good people to stand up". The MP emphasised that the response from constituents, both locally and from people worldwide, provided crucial support to her family throughout the decade following Jo Cox's death.

Leadbeater reflected on witnessing "the very best of humanity" emerge in response to Jo Cox's murder, with constituents, supporters and people from around the world expressing sympathy and sharing stories about the former MP. She stated that this outpouring of support has continued to sustain her family over the ten years since the attack. The anniversary marks a significant moment for Birstall, a town where the tragedy remains a defining historical event in the community's memory.