Jo Cox

Jo Cox From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For other people with similar names, see Jo Cox (disambiguation). Jo Cox Helen Joanne Cox.jpg Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen In office 8 May 2015 – 16 June 2016 Preceded by Mike Wood Succeeded by Tracy Brabin Personal details Born Helen Joanne Leadbeater 22 June 1974 Batley, England Died 16 June 2016 (aged 41) Birstall, England[1] Political party Labour Spouse(s) Brendan Cox Children 2 Alma mater Pembroke College, Cambridge London School of Economics Website jocox.org.uk Helen Joanne "Jo" Cox[2] (née Leadbeater; 22 June 1974 – 16 June 2016) was a British Labour Party politician. She was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Batley and Spen constituency from her election in May 2015 until her murder 13 months later in June 2016, having won the seat with an increased majority for Labour in the 2015 general election.[3]

Cox was born in Batley, West Yorkshire, and studied Social and Political Sciences at Pembroke College, Cambridge. Working first as a political assistant, she then joined the international humanitarian charity Oxfam, where she rose to become head of policy and advocacy at Oxfam GB. She was selected to contest the Batley and Spen parliamentary seat after the previous incumbent decided not to stand in 2015. She held the seat for Labour with an increased majority. In her maiden speech she talked about the diversity of her constituency saying she had noticed that "we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us".[4] She became a campaigner on issues relating to the Syrian Civil War, and founded and chaired the all-party parliamentary group Friends of Syria; an obituary appearing in The Independent on the day of her death described her as having "campaigned tirelessly for refugees".[5]

On 16 June 2016, Cox died shortly after being shot and stabbed multiple times in Birstall, where she had been due to hold a constituency surgery. A local man, Thomas Mair, was found guilty of her murder five months later and sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order for a crime which the trial judge described as an "act of terror". It was revealed at Mair's trial that he was associated with far-right organisations.[6]

Contents [hide] 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2.1 Early career 2.2 Political career 3 Personal life 4 Death 4.1 International reaction 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Early life and education[edit] Cox was born Helen Joanne Leadbeater on 22 June 1974 in Batley, West Yorkshire, England, and raised in Heckmondwike.[7] Her mother was a school secretary while her father worked in a toothpaste and hairspray factory.[8] She was educated at Heckmondwike Grammar School, a state grammar school, where she was head girl. During summers, she worked packing toothpaste.[8]

Cox studied Social and Political Sciences at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1995. She was the first member of her family to attend university. She later studied at the London School of Economics.[9][10][11][12][13] She later recalled that her experience at Cambridge, where what mattered was "where you were born ... how you spoke ... who you knew", "knocked me for about five years".[9]

Career[edit] Early career[edit] Following her graduation, Cox worked as an adviser to Labour MP Joan Walley, before moving to Brussels to spend two years advising Glenys Kinnock, wife of the former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who was then a Member of the European Parliament.[9] Cox worked for the aid groups Oxfam and Oxfam International between 2001 and 2009, first in Brussels as the leader of the group's trade reform campaign, as head of policy and advocacy at Oxfam GB in 2005, and head of Oxfam International's humanitarian campaigns in New York City in 2007.[14] While there she was instrumental in helping to publish For a Safer Tomorrow, a book authored by Ed Cairns that examines the changing nature of the world's humanitarian policies.[15] Her work for Oxfam in which she met disadvantaged groups in Darfur and Afghanistan influenced her political thinking.[9]

Cox's charity work led to a role advising Sarah Brown (the wife of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown), who was spearheading a campaign to prevent deaths in pregnancy and childbirth.[8][16] Cox was the national chair of the Labour Women's Network and a senior adviser to the Freedom Fund, an anti-slavery charity.[11][12]

Political career[edit] Cox was nominated by the Labour Party to contest the Batley and Spen seat being vacated by Mike Wood in the 2015 general election.[17] She was selected as its candidate from an all-women shortlist.[9] The Batley and Spen seat was a Conservative marginal between 1983 and 1997, but is now considered to be a safe seat for Labour,[18] and Cox won the seat with 43.2% of the vote, increasing Labour's majority to 6,051.[3][9]

Cox's constituency, Batley and Spen, is located in West Yorkshire (pictured) Cox made her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 3 June 2015, using it to celebrate her constituency's ethnic diversity, while highlighting the economic challenges facing the community and urging the government to rethink its approach to economic regeneration.[19] She was one of 36 Labour MPs who nominated Jeremy Corbyn as a candidate in the Labour leadership election of 2015, but said she had done so to get him on the list and encourage a broad debate.[20] In the election she voted for Liz Kendall,[21] and announced after the local elections on 6 May 2016 that she and fellow MP Neil Coyle regretted nominating Corbyn.[22]

Cox campaigned for a solution to the Syrian Civil War.[13] In October 2015 she co-authored an article in The Observer with Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell, arguing that British military forces could help achieve an ethical solution to the conflict, including the creation of civilian safe havens inside Syria.[23] During that month Cox launched the All Party Parliamentary Friends of Syria group, becoming its chair.[24][25] In the Commons vote in December to approve UK military intervention against ISIL in Syria, Cox abstained because she believed in a more comprehensive strategy that would also include combatting President Bashar al-Assad and his "indiscriminate barrel bombs".[13] She wrote:

By refusing to tackle Assad's brutality, we may actively alienate more of the Sunni population, driving them towards Isis. So I have decided to abstain. Because I am not against airstrikes per se, but I cannot actively support them unless they are part of a plan. Because I believe in action to address Isis, but do not believe it will work in isolation.[26]

Andrew Grice of The Independent felt that she "argued forcefully that the UK Government should be doing more both to help the victims and use its influence abroad to bring an end to the Syrian conflict".[5] In February 2016, Cox wrote to the Nobel Committee praising the work of the Syrian Civil Defense, a civilian voluntary emergency rescue organisation known as the White Helmets, and nominating them for the Nobel Peace Prize: "In the most dangerous place on earth these unarmed volunteers risk their lives to help anyone in need regardless of religion or politics". The nomination was accepted by the committee, and garnered the support of twenty of her fellow MPs and several high-profile personalities, including George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Chris Martin and Michael Palin. The nomination was supported by members of Canada's New Democratic Party, who urged Stéphane Dion, the country's Foreign Affairs Minister, to give his backing on behalf of Canada.[27][28]

Cox, a supporter of the Labour Friends of Palestine & the Middle East,[29] called for the lifting of the blockade of the Gaza Strip.[30] She opposed efforts by the government to curtail the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, and said "I believe that this is a gross attack on democratic freedoms. Not only is it right to boycott unethical companies but it is our right to do so."[31] Cox was working with Conservative MP Thomas Tugendhat on a report to be published following the release of the Chilcot Report into the 2003 invasion of Iraq. After her death, Tugendhat wrote in The Times, "Our starting point was that while Britain must learn the painful lessons of Iraq, we must not let the pendulum swing towards knee-jerk isolationism, ideological pacifism and doctrinal anti-interventionism".[32] With the charity Tell MAMA she worked on The Geography of Anti-Muslim Hatred, investigating cases of Islamophobia; the report was dedicated to her at its launch on 29 June.[33] Two parliamentary questions concerning the Yemeni Conflict, tabled by Cox to the Foreign Office on 14 June, were answered by Tobias Ellwood after her death. On 1 July The Guardian reported that each answer was accompanied by a government note stating "This question was tabled before the sad death of the honourable lady but the subject remains important and the government's response ought to be placed on the public record."[34]

Cox was a "Remain" supporter in the campaign leading to the 2016 referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union.[35] Following her death, the EU referendum campaign was suspended for the day by both sides as a mark of respect.[14] The BBC cancelled editions of Question Time and This Week, two political discussion programmes scheduled to air that evening focussing on issues relating to the referendum.[36][37]

Personal life[edit] Cox was married to Brendan Cox, who was an adviser on international development to Gordon Brown during his premiership.[38][39] They met while she was working for Oxfam.[15] They had two young children,[11] who were aged three and five when Cox died.[40] A secular humanist, Cox was a supporter of the British Humanist Association.[41]

Cox's family divided their time between their constituency home and a houseboat, a converted Dutch barge, on the Thames, moored near Tower Bridge in London.[9][13]

Death[edit] Main article: Killing of Jo Cox

The library in Birstall where Cox had been due to hold a constituency surgery at the time of the attack On 16 June 2016, Cox was fatally shot and stabbed outside the library in Birstall, West Yorkshire, where she was about to hold a constituency surgery at 1:00 pm.[14][42]

According to eyewitnesses, she was shot three times — once near the head — and stabbed multiple times. A 77-year-old local man, Bernard Kenny, was stabbed in the stomach while trying to fend off her attacker. Initial reports indicated that the gunman shouted "Britain first" as he carried out the attack.[14] The far-right Britain First party issued a statement denying any involvement or encouragement in the attack and suggested that the phrase "could have been a slogan rather than a reference to our party".[43][44] Later at Mair's trial a witness stated that he shouted, "This is for Britain. Britain will always come first".[45]

Four hours after the incident, West Yorkshire Police announced that Cox had died of her injuries shortly after being admitted to Leeds General Infirmary.[42][46] She was the first sitting MP to be fatally attacked since the 1990 death of the Conservative party's Ian Gow, victim of a Provisional IRA car bomb,[47] and it was the first serious assault on an MP since Stephen Timms was stabbed by Roshonara Choudhry in an attempted assassination in 2010.[48][49] A memorial service was held at St Peter's Church in Birstall the following day.[50]

A vigil held in remembrance outside Bath Abbey, one of the many held around Britain Thomas Mair, a 52-year-old Batley and Spen constituent[51] who had a history of psychiatric problems and links to the U.S.-based National Alliance, a neo-Nazi group,[52] was arrested in connection with her death shortly after the attack.[53][54] In a statement issued the day after the attack, West Yorkshire Police said that Cox was the victim of a "targeted attack" and the suspect's links to far-right extremism were a "priority line of inquiry" in the search for a motive.[55] On 18 June, Mair was charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.[56] He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court later that day, and at the Old Bailey on 20 June.[57]

Cox's husband, Brendan, issued a statement following her death, urging people to "fight against the hatred that killed her".[58] Among those who paid tribute to Cox were Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who described her as someone who was "dedicated to getting us to live up to our promises to support the developing world and strengthen human rights",[59] while Prime Minister David Cameron said she was "a star for her constituents, a star in parliament, and right across the house".[60] U.S. President Barack Obama telephoned Brendan Cox to offer his condolences, noting that "the world is a better place because of her selfless service to others".[61] Parliament was recalled on 20 June 2016 for fellow MPs to pay tribute to Cox.[62]

The day after Cox died, 17 June 2016, Brendan Cox set up a GoFundMe page named "Jo Cox's Fund" in aid of three charities which he described as "closest to her heart": the Royal Voluntary Service, Hope not Hate, and the White Helmets, a Syrian civil defence group. £700,000 had been raised by 19 June 2016,[63][64] with the amount exceeding £1 million by the following day.[65] On 20 June, Oxfam announced it would release Stand As One – Live at Glastonbury 2016, an album of live performances from the festival in memory of Cox and that proceeds from the album, released on 11 July, will go towards the charity's work with refugees.[66][67] The festival opened with a tribute to Cox.[68] On the evening of 23 June, while ballots were being counted in the EU membership referendum, polling officials in the Yorkshire and Humber region observed a minute's silence.[69]

West Yorkshire coroner Martin Fleming opened an inquest into Cox's death at Bradford Coroner's Court on 24 June. It was adjourned following a six-minute hearing and her body released to allow her family to make funeral arrangements.[70] The funeral, "a very small and private family affair",[71] was held in her constituency on 15 July, with many thousands of people paying their respects as the cortege passed.[72]

A by-election in Batley and Spen was held on 20 October 2016. Labour candidate Tracy Brabin, an actress whose credits include a role in Coronation Street in the mid 1990s, won the by-election with 85 percent share of the vote. The Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, and UKIP did not contest the election as a mark of respect.[73]

On 23 November 2016, Mair was found guilty of all charges - the murder of Jo Cox, stabbing Bernard Kenny (a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent), possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon, namely the dagger. The trial judge said that the crime was so severe that 53-year-old Mair should be given a whole-life tariff—never be released from prison, except at the discretion of the Secretary of State.[74]

International reaction[edit] News of Cox's death sparked international condemnation and tributes poured in. A personal friend, Canadian MP Nathan Cullen paid tribute to Cox in the Canadian House of Commons.[75] Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, current U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was wounded in an assassination attempt in 2011, were among international politicians who sent messages of condemnation and sympathy in the aftermath of her killing.[76]

See also[edit] Anna Lindh – Swedish politician killed before the 2003 referendum on the euro Nigel Jones, Baron Jones of Cheltenham – MP who, in 2000, was attacked at his advice surgery by a person he had previously tried to help; his aide Andrew Pennington was killed. References[edit] Jump up ^ "MP Jo Cox died from 'multiple stab and gunshot wounds' – BBC News". BBC News. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016. Jump up ^ The London Gazette: no. 61230. p. 9119. 18 May 2015. ^ Jump up to: a b "Batley & Spen Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox's Maiden Speech To Parliament: 'We Are Far More United Than The Things That Divide Us'". The Huffington Post. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016. ^ Jump up to: a b "Jo Cox obituary: The Labour MP who campaigned tirelessly for refugees". The Independent. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Man jailed for life for murdering MP Jo Cox". BBC News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016. Jump up ^ Carr, Tim; Dale, Iain; Waller, Robert (18 May 2015). The Politicos Guide to the New House of Commons 2015: Profiles of the New MPs and Analysis of the 2015 General Election Results. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 9781849549240. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Jo Cox profile: The Yorkshire lass who achieved her 'dream' of representing her hometown in Westminster". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2016. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Jo Cox obituary: Proud Yorkshire lass who became local MP". BBC News. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ "COX, Helen Joanne, (Jo)". Who's Who 2016. A & C Black. 2016. ^ Jump up to: a b c Martin, Shaw (12 May 2014). "Women's campaigner Jo Cox chosen as Labour candidate to fight next General Election in Batley & Spen". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 6 May 2016. ^ Jump up to: a b "Jo Cox". The Labour Party. Retrieved 8 October 2015. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "'I've been in some horrific situations' – MP". Yorkshire Post. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2016. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Boyle, Danny (16 June 2016). "Labour MP Jo Cox dies after being shot and stabbed in her constituency near Leeds". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2016. ^ Jump up to: a b "Jo Cox MP: 'A humanitarian with political nous'". BBC News. BBC. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016. Jump up ^ Hope, Christopher (10 June 2014). "Oxfam: MPs shocked by 'disgraceful' political campaigning". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2015. Jump up ^ Shaw, Martin (12 May 2014). "Women's campaigner Jo Cox chosen as Labour candidate to fight next General Election in Batley & Spen". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ Castle, Stephen; Bock, Pauline (16 June 2016). "Jo Cox, Member of British Parliament, Is Killed in Attack". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Devolution And Growth Across Britain". Hansard. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Maiden speech made by new MP Cox before nominating Corbyn". Batley & Birstall News. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ Grice, Andrew; Wright, Oliver (10 September 2015). "Labour moderates plot fightback aimed at regaining control of party in the event of Jeremy Corbyn victory". The Independent. Retrieved 6 May 2016. Jump up ^ Cox, Jo; Coyle, Neil (6 May 2016). "We nominated Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership. Now we regret it". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2016. Jump up ^ Mitchell, Andrew; Cox, Jo (11 October 2015). "British forces could help achieve an ethical solution in Syria". The Observer. Retrieved 11 October 2015. Jump up ^ Helm, Toby; Boffey, Daniel (10 October 2015). "More than 50 Labour MPs to defy Jeremy Corbyn in vote on Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2016. Jump up ^ Proctor, Kate (12 February 2016). "Jo Cox: Syrian ceasefire tipped in President Assad and Russia's favour". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 1 June 2016. Jump up ^ Cox, Jo (2 December 2015). "With Regret, I Feel I Have No Other Option But to Abstain on Syria". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 6 May 2016. Jump up ^ Ensor, Josie (15 September 2016). "MP Jo Cox's heartfelt plea for Syrian 'heroes' to receive Nobel Prize shortly before her death". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 17 September 2016. Jump up ^ Cullen, Catherine (15 September 2016). "NDP pushes for Syrian 'White Helmets' to win Nobel Peace Prize". CBC News. CBC. Retrieved 19 September 2016. Jump up ^ "Parliamentary supporters". Labour Friends of Palestine & the Middle East. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Making the progressive case for peace in Palestine and Israel: Labour Party policies to support the rule of law and human rights" (PDF). Labour Friends of Palestine & the Middle East. December 2015. pp. 10–12. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ Cox, Jo (17 February 2016). "Have your say: Israel boycott ban". jocox.org.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ "MP Tom Tugendhat worked with 'murdered' Jo Cox on Iraq war report". Kent Messenger. KM Group. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016. Jump up ^ "Report dedicated to Jo Cox shows 326 per cent rise in anti-Muslim incidents". ITV News. ITV. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016. Jump up ^ "Government answers Jo Cox's final questions on children in war zones". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016. Jump up ^ "EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand". BBC News. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ Goodacre, Kate (16 June 2016). "Question Time and This Week cancelled by BBC following the tragic death of Jo Cox MP". DigitalSpy.com. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ Lewis, Helen (16 June 2016). "EU campaigning suspended following death of Jo Cox MP". New Statesman. Progressive Media International. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ Sims, Alexandra (16 June 2016). "Jo Cox dead: MP's husband Brendan Cox says wife was killed by 'hate'". Independent. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Husband posts picture on Twitter of MP wife outside their houseboat". The Daily Telegraph. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ "MP Jo Cox killed in appalling street attack". SKY News. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox MP". British Humanist Assication. Retrieved 29 September 2016. ^ Jump up to: a b Booth, Robert; Dodd, Vikram; Parveen, Nazia (16 June 2016). "Labour MP Jo Cox has died after being shot and stabbed". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ Hartley-Parkinson, Richard (16 June 2016). "MP Jo Cox shot outside Birstall library by man shouting 'Britain First'". Metro. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Britain First obviously is NOT involved and would never encourage behaviour of this sort. Jump up ^ Boyle, Danny (16 June 2016). "Britain First party leader 'just as shocked as everyone else'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jo Cox is obviously an MP campaigning to keep Britain in the EU so if it was shouted by the attacker it could have been a slogan rather than a reference to our party – we just don't know. Jump up ^ "Labour MP Jo Cox 'murdered for political cause'". BBC News. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox MP dead after shooting attack". BBC News. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ Calamur, Krishnadev; Vasilogambros, Matt (16 June 2016). "The Attack on a British MP". The Atlantic. Retrieved 16 June 2016. As our colleague Matt Ford notes, Cox is the first MP to be assassinated in office since Ian Gow, a Conservative lawmaker who was killed in a car bombing by the Irish Republican Army in 1990. Jump up ^ Siddique, Haroon (16 June 2016). "Attack on Jo Cox is only the latest serious assault against an MP". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ Nicks, Denver (16 June 2016). "Assassinated British MP Was a Vocal Humanitarian". Time. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox MP death: David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn unite in tributes". BBC News. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ Pidd, Helen (17 June 2016). "Suspect in Jo Cox's killing described as quiet, polite and reserved". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 June 2016. Jump up ^ Pogatchnik, Shawn; Lawless, Jill (17 June 2016). "Police probe far-right ties, mental health in Jo Cox slaying". Associated Press. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ Foster, Patrick; Mendick, Robert; Wilkinson, Michael (16 June 2016). "Thomas Mair: Man arrested in connection with Jo Cox attack was a 'loner' with 'history of mental health problems'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ Castle, Stephen (17 June 2016). "Suspect in British Lawmaker's Killing Is Said to Have Neo-Nazi Ties". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ Booth, Robert; Dodd, Vikram (17 June 2016). "Jo Cox killing: suspect's far-right links a 'priority line of inquiry'". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ Booth, Robert (17 June 2016). "Thomas Mair charged with murder of MP Jo Cox". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox MP death: Thomas Mair in court on murder charge". BBC News. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox death: Husband leads tributes to shot MP". BBC News. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ John, Tara. "Tributes Pour in for Jo Cox Following British MP's Death". Time. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox MP: 'We've lost a bright star' says Cameron". BBC News. Retrieved 16 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Obama Makes Phone Call To Jo Cox's Husband". Sky News. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox death: MPs return to Parliament to pay tribute". BBC News. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox remembered at Sunday church services nationwide". ITV News. ITN. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox's Fund". gofundme.com/jocox. GoFundMe. Retrieved 20 June 2016. Jump up ^ Quinn, Ben (20 June 2016). "Jo Cox memorial fund passes £1m mark in three days". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 21 June 2016. Jump up ^ Payne, Chris (20 June 2016). "Coldplay, Muse, Chvrches & More to Tribute Jo Cox With Glastonbury Live Album". Billboard. Retrieved 21 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Glastonbury live album to be dedicated to Jo Cox MP". BBC News. BBC. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Glastonbury Festival has sombre opening". BBC News. BBC. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Counting stops for minute silence for Jo Cox". The Telegraph. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016. Jump up ^ Parveen, Nazia (24 June 2016). "Body of MP Jo Cox released to family for funeral". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 24 June 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox funeral will be small and private affair, say family". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016. Jump up ^ Pidd, Helen (15 July 2016). "Jo Cox funeral brings thousands of mourners on to streets". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2016. Jump up ^ "Tories retain Witney and Labour holds Batley and Spen in byelections". The Guardian. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ "Jo Cox: Man jailed for 'terrorist' murder of MP". BBC News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016. Jump up ^ "Canadian MP breaks down in Jo Cox tribute". Retrieved 6 July 2016. Jump up ^ "Worldwide tributes flow in after Jo Cox MP's shocking death". The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 July 2016. External links[edit]

Media related to Jo Cox at Wikimedia Commons

Quotations related to Jo Cox at Wikiquote Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by Mike Wood	Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen 2015–2016	Succeeded by Tracy Brabin Authority control	 WorldCat Identities VIAF: 489146284470315332086 GND: 1103736213 Categories: Jo Cox1974 births2016 deaths21st-century British politiciansBritish humanistsAlumni of Pembroke College, CambridgeAlumni of the London School of EconomicsDeaths by firearm in EnglandDeaths by stabbing in EnglandFemale members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituenciesLabour Party (UK) MPsMembers of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituenciesOxfam peoplePeople educated at Heckmondwike Grammar SchoolPeople from BatleyPeople murdered in EnglandUK MPs 2015–20Murdered politicians

Jo Cox Biography Showing all 8 items Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trivia (3) Overview (3) Date of Birth 22 June 1974, Batley, West Yorshire, England, UK Date of Death 16 June 2016, Birstall, West Yorkshire, England, UK (homicide) Birth Name Helen Joanne Leadbeater Mini Bio (1) Jo Cox was born on June 22, 1974 in Batley, West Yorshire, England as Helen Joanne Leadbeater. She was married to Brendan Cox. She died on June 16, 2016 in Birstall, West Yorkshire, England. Spouse (1) Brendan Cox (? - 16 June 2016) (her death) (2 children) Trivia (3) Cox was married to Brendan Cox, who was an adviser on international development to Gordon Brown during the latter's premiership. They had two children, who were aged three and five when Cox died. Cox was shot and stabbed by Thomas Mair, 52, after she emerged from a library meeting with local constituents. "Britain first," Mair shouted before he attacked her. "Cox, a member of the Labor Party, believed Britain should remain in the EU and was a supporter of Syrian refugees," the New York Post reported.

ג'ו קוקס

ג'ו קוקס הלן ג'ואן "ג'ו" קוקס (באנגלית: Jo Cox; שם נעורים: לידביטר (Leadbeater)‏; 22 ביוני 1974 - 16 ביוני 2016) הייתה פוליטיקאית בריטית ממפלגת הלייבור. נבחרה כנציגת מחוז באטלי וספן בבחירות 2015 לפרלמנט הבריטי וכיהנה כחברת פרלמנט במשך 13 חודשים עד להתנקשות ורציחתה ביוני 2016.

תוכן עניינים [%D7%94%D7%A1%D7%AA%D7%A8%D7%94] 1 ביוגרפיה 1.1 ראשית הקריירה 1.2 קריירה פוליטית 2 במישור האישי 3 מותה 4 קישורים חיצוניים 5 הערות שוליים ביוגרפיה[%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%AA קוד מקור | עריכה] קוקס נולדה בעיר באטלי שבמערב יורקשייר, בבריטניה. גדלה בעיר הקמונדוויק שבאותו מחוז. אמה הייתה מזכירת בית ספר ואביה פועל. הייתה מדריכה בבית ספרה. בחופשות הקיץ עבדה במפעל. בשנת 1995 סיימה את לימודיה לתואר ראשון במדעי החברה והמדינה באוניברסיטת קיימברידג'. הייתה הראשונה ממשפחתה ללמוד באוניברסיטה. בהמשך למדה בבית הספר לכלכלה של לונדון.

ראשית הקריירה[%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%AA קוד מקור | עריכה] לאחר שסיימה את לימודיה עבדה קוקס כיועצת לחברת הפרלמנט ממפלגת הלייבור ג'ואן וולי. לאחר מכן עברה לבריסל, שם ייעצה כשנתיים לגלניס קינוקס, שכיהנה כחברת הפרלמנט האירופי. בין השנים 2001-2009 עבדה קוקס בארגון הסיוע אוקספם. ב-2007 מונתה לאחראית הקמפיינים ההומניטריים הבינלאומיים של אוקספם בניו יורק. במהלך עבודתה באוקספם פגשה קבוצות אוכלוסייה טעונות טיפוח מדארפור ואפגניסטן, היכרות אשר השפיעה על הקריירה הפוליטית שלה בשלב מאוחר יותר.

פעילותה ההומניטרית הובילה לקבלת תפקיד כיועצת לשרה בראון (אשת גורדון בראון, ראש ממשלת בריטניה לשעבר), שעמדה בראש קמפיין למניעת מוות של נשים כתוצאה מהריון או לידה.

קריירה פוליטית[%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%AA קוד מקור | עריכה] קוקס הייתה מועמדת מטעם מפלגת הלייבור במחוז הבחירה באטלי וספן לבחירות לפרלמנט הבריטי. מחוז הבחירה באטלי וספן נחשב כמחוז בו בחירת נציג מפלגת הלייבור בטוחה למדי, וקוקס אכן ניצחה עם כ-43% מהקולות[1]. קוקס נשאה את נאום הבכורה שלה בבית הנבחרים הבריטי ב-3 ביוני 2015 ובו שיבחה את רב התרבותיות הקיימת במחוז הבחירה שלה והדגישה את האתגרים הכלכליים הניצבים בפני הקהילה המתגוררת באזור[2]. הייתה בין 36 חברי הלייבור שהציעו את ג'רמי קורבין כמועמד לראשות הלייבור, אך טענה שעשתה זאת לצורך הרחבת הדיון[3]. בפועל, הצביעה עבור ליז קנדול ובהמשך הצהירה כי היא מתחרטת על הצעת קורבין לתפקיד.

קוקס פעלה פוליטית למציאת פתרון למלחמת האזרחים בסוריה[4]. ב-11 באוקטובר 2015 פורסם בעיתון האובזרבר מאמר שכתבה בשיתוף עם חבר הפרלמנט השמרן אנדרו מיטשל, ובו עלתה הטענה שכוחות צבאיים בריטים יוכלו לסייע בקידום פתרון הומניטרי למצב בסוריה[5]. באותו חודש הקימה קוקס קבוצה פרלמנטרית של "ידידי סוריה מכל המפלגות" (All Party Parliamentary Friends of Syria). קוקס נמנעה בהצבעה לאישור הפעלת כוחות צבאיים בריטיים כנגד המדינה האסלאמית בסוריה, כיוון שהאמינה בהפעלת אסטרטגיה מקיפה יותר שתכלול לחימה גם כנגד בשאר אל-אסד. היא הסבירה זאת כך:

"בשל הסירוב שלנו להתמודד עם ההתעללות של אסד, אנו עלולים לגרום באופן פעיל לתחושת ניכור של האוכלוסיה הסונית ולדחוף אותם לכיוון המדינה האיסלאמית. אז החלטתי להימנע. כיוון שאני לא נגד תקיפות כשלעצמם, אבל לא יכולה לתמוך בהם באופן פעיל כל עוד הם לא חלק מתוכנית. כיוון שאני מאמינה בפעולה כמענה למדינה האיסלאמית, אבל לא מאמינה שהפעולה תעבוד לבדה"[6].

קוקס, אשר תמכה בקבוצה הפרלמנטרית "ידידי הלייבור של פלסטין והמזרח התיכון" (Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East)[7], קראה להסרת הסגר על רצועת עזה. היא התנגדה למאמצי הממשלה הבריטית להצר את צעדי תנועת ה-BDS. קוקס עבדה בשיתוף עם חבר הפרלמנט השמרן תומאס טוג'נדהאט על דוח שהיה אמור להתפרסם לאחר פרסום דוח ועדת החקירה הבריטית בנושא הפלישה לעיראק ב-2003. כמו כן, פעלה בשיתוף עם ארגון "Tell MAMA" הבריטי (ארגון הפועל לתיעוד ולמדידת תקריות אנטי-מוסלמיות בבריטניה) על דו"ח החוקר מקרי אסלאמופוביה. הדוח פורסם לאחר מותה והוקדש לזכרה.

קוקס נמנתה על המחנה התומך בהישארות בריטניה במשאל העם על חברות הממלכה המאוחדת באיחוד האירופי. לאחר מותה התעמולה הקשורה למשאל העם הושהתה ליום על ידי שני המחנות, כאות לזכרה.

במישור האישי[%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%AA קוד מקור | עריכה] קוקס נישאה לברנדן קוקס, שעבד כיועץ לפיתוח בינלאומי עבור גורדון בראון. השניים נפגשו בעת שקוקס עבדה באוקספם. לזוג שני ילדים, שהיו בגילאי 3 ו-5 נכון למועד מותה של קוקס. המשפחה חילקה את זמנה בין מגורים במחוז באטלי וספן ובין מגורים בבית סירה על נהר התמזה, בסמוך לגשר מצודת לונדון.

מותה[%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%AA קוד מקור | עריכה]

הספרייה בבריסטול בה הייתה אמורה קוקס לערוך מפגש עם בוחרים ב-16 ביוני 2016 קוקס נורתה ונדקרה מחוץ לספריה בבירסטול, מערב יורקשייר, שם תיכננה לערוך מפגש עם בוחרים.

לדברי עדי ראייה היא נורתה שלוש פעמים ונדקרה מספר פעמים. אדם נוסף, בן 77, נדקר כאשר ניסה להדוף את תוקפה של קוקס. בדיווחים הראשונים נטען כי התוקף צעק "בריטניה תחילה" (Britain First). "בריטניה תחילה" הוא גם שמה של מפלגת ימין-קיצוני בריטית, אך המפלגה דחתה כל קשר למעורבות או עידוד של התקיפה וטענה שהביטוי "יכול להיות סלוגן ולא התייחסות למפלגתנו"[8]. כ-4 שעות לאחר התקרית נפטרה קוקס.

תומס מייר, בן 52, בעל עבר פסיכיאטרי וקשר לקבוצה נאו-נאצית אמריקאית, נעצר בחשד לקשר לרצח. ב-18 ביוני 2016 הוא הואשם בין היתר באשמות רצח וחבלה גופנית חמורה. נדון בנובמבר 2016 למאסר עולם.

קישורים חיצוניים[%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%AA קוד מקור | עריכה] ויקישיתוף מדיה וקבצים בנושא ג'ו קוקס בוויקישיתוף "ג'ו נלחמה למען עולם טוב יותר בכל יום מחייה", nrg,‏ 17 ביוני 2016 בבריטניה מחכים לתשובות: האם חברת הלייבור נרצחה בגלל משאל העם?, וואלה! NEWS,‏ 17 ביוני 2016 הערות שוליים[%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%AA קוד מקור | עריכה] ^ Batley & Spen Parliamentary constituency, BBC ^ נאום הבכורה של ג'ו קוקס, אתר הפרלמנט הבריטי (באנגלית) ^ Maiden speech made by new MP Cox before nominating Corbyn, "Batley and Bristall News", ‏19 June, 2015 ^ ‘I’ve been in some horrific situations’ - MP, The Yorkshire Post, 26 December 2015 ^ British forces could help achieve an ethical solution in Syria, The Guardian, 11 October 2015 ^ With Regret, I Feel I Have No Other Option But to Abstain on Syria, Huffpost Politics, 2 December, 2015 ^ Parliamentary supporters, Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East ^ Richard Hartley-Parkinson, MP Jo Cox dies after being shot and stabbed ‘by man shouting Britain First’, 16 June, 2016 קטגוריות: חברי הפרלמנט הבריטיחברי מפלגת הלייבור של בריטניהקורבנות רצח בבריטניה