20/06/2016 House of Lords

My Lords, Jo Cox was clearly a remarkable woman. I never met her,

tragically the first thing I knew about her was that she had been

killed. We are shocked that a young woman in the prime of her life has

been stabbed and shot dead in the streets of town like Birstall on

Thursday lunchtime. We are sad that a husband has lost his wife and two

young children will never see their mother again. And we are horrified

because Jo was a member of Parliament killed by a constituent

whilst she was going about her work serving the people of Batley and

Spen. My Lords, we have learned a lot about Jo over the past few days.

None of us could fail to be impressed by her dedication and

commitment, both before and since entering Parliament. She was a woman

who clearly cared about other people. She had travelled far, had

wide horizons, and she thought big. For me, most moving has been hearing

what with clearly a woman with a passion for the world say in her

maiden speech how proud she was to come from Yorkshire and be

representing the place where she had grown up and the people she had

grown up amongst. The impression she gave this stranger, listening to

have the first time, was that Jo Cox was a woman who knew who she was,

and I really like that. My Lords, we are not just paying tribute to Jo

Cox today. We are standing in solidarity. Shoulder to shoulder

with the other house of parliament. The House of Commons has lost one of

its own in the most dreadful circumstances. It is not the first

time, over the last 40 years we have lost Robert Bradford, Anthony Berry

and Ian Gow at the hands of IRA terrorists. One of them was holding

a constituency surgery at the time of the attack and his caretaker was

also killed. Thankfully, Stephen Timms survived a violent attack by a

constituent as did the noble Lord Lord Jones though tragically the

Lord's assistant was killed in that attack. But Jo Cox is the first MP

to be killed in the line of duty by a constituent. My Lords, today, as

leader of this house and behalf of all noble Lords, I would like to pay

tribute to all members of the other place. Our elected colleagues who

follow their vacation to improve things for the benefit of those they

represent. Their route to Parliament is rarely easy and it can take

years. It's usual for them to have to accept failure many times before

being selected, to represent their party, hopefully in a winnable seat,

and often not before they have had to stand and lose in a hopeless one.

Those who do make it work tirelessly for their constituents, not to say

in weight since the bucket every wake -- in Westminster, but every

week in their constituency. But as the last election showed, they could

be rejected if the electorate are fed up with their party at large.

The British people deserve the best public servants to represent them in

Parliament. Jo Cox was clearly a great public servant for her

constituents. And thankfully in that respect, she was far from alone.

Marking her death, tragic and unfair as it is, present at least one

opportunity for the sake of good democracy and it is this. For those

of us who know how hard MPs work for to raise awareness of their

commitment to the people they represent. My Lords, behalf of the

whole house, I offer my sincere condolences to Jo's husband,

children, parents, sister and all her family and friends. On behalf of

the Conservative Party in this house, I offer all of our colleagues

on the Labour benches our deepest sympathies for the loss of their

dear friend. And finally, my Lords, on behalf of the House of Lords, I

offer our condolences and respect to our colleagues in the other place.

My Lords, may I thank the leader for her comments today. The murder of Jo

Cox MP almost defies words. It is so devastating, so heartbreaking, any

words are inadequate to express the scale and depth of the loss. The

loss to Brendan and her children, her parents, sister and family, and

that wider family or friends, colleagues and constituents. And it

is a loss that has affected everybody who knew her, but also so

many mayor who had not yet get to know her. And it is not just a loss

for her and what she was, but the loss of what would have been and

what more she would have done. It is a loss that is so profound and

overwhelming, that we, individually and collectively as a nation, are

the poorer for it. Jo was clearly very special, exceptional.

Physically tiny Yorkshire lass, five foot high, she was morally and

intellectually strong, driven by her values. She knew she had a role to

play in creating a better country and world. And for the all too short

time she was in Parliament, she brought those values with all the

skills, experience and knowledge from her past roles with Oxfam and

NGOs, working with Glenys Kinnock, to her life as a Labour MP. We have

heard her describe as a force of nature, decent and determined. She

made people feel good about themselves and what they could

achieve. She was passionate and serious and she was good fun. As one

of her friends in the House of Commons said, she was the best of

us, and she made the best of us. She saw that her role in politics could

be a force for good, a force that could make lives better. And that is

what brought her like so many others into politics. Our democracy will be

serious the undermined and weakened if his outrage stops our brightest

and best stepping forward into public life. When good people with

passion and principle tell their family and friends they want to be a

counsellor or member of Parliament, I want their families to be proud of

them. Not to fear for them. Yet the level of vitriol and violence

contaminating our public and political life will deter some of

the best people that we need the most. Almost every MP can report

threats and abuse, sometimes violent. And although social media

makes it easier, it is too easy just to bring the Internet. All of this

has coincided with a deterioration of political debate. Of course we

must argue our differences on policy with emotion and conviction, but too

many have gone beyond that. The tone of the debate and the language,

particularly around immigration and asylum seekers, shames many. The

drip feed of denigration and abuse poisons the very air that we

breathe. So those of us who can speak out and those of us who report

and write needs to think very carefully about past actions and

words and the way forward. In the words of Jo's husband Brendan, Jo

would have wanted us to, and I quote, all unite to fight against

the hatred that killed her. The hope for the future is that society comes

to the fore. As we have seen from the reaction from the public home

and abroad. And we saw the amazing coverage of the bravery of Bernard

Kenny who risked his own life, and the love and loyalty of her

assistant. My Lords... Excuse me. Over the weekend, my husband drew my

attention to a 1968 crore in of Martin Luther King -- goring of

Martin -- goring, saying, they think they have killed me, standing over a

picture of a cross legged Ghandi. Despite his death, his passion lived

on and through others achieved great things. So Jo's legacy has to be

that same inspiration. An inspiration to others to continue

her work. An inspiration to us all to be better. An inspiration to

those who have encouraged hatred and bitterness that they must stop. And

more than anything else, an inspiration to others to fulfil her

promise and legacy. In the book of consultancies in Birstall, this

message was left, and I can think of no finer tribute. -- book of

condolences. This is a message from a young woman who had met Jo and it

just says, you told me I would do great things. I am going to prove

you write and I am going to carry on your legacy. My Lords, at this time

of terrible shock and profound loss, I wish on behalf of the Liberal

Democrat inches to extend our heartfelt sympathy to the

constituents of Jo Cox, to our colleagues on the Labour benches and

above all to Jo's husband, children, parents, sister and wider family. My

Lords I am sure like many I have never had the privilege of meeting

Jo Cox. But as I have listened to the outpouring of tributes that we

have heard since the tragic event of Thursday afternoon, I realised that

part of my sense of loss is that I did not have the opportunity to know

such an incredible person. Jo Cox was a humanitarian, are deeply

committed public servants, in her role as an aid worker she spent time

with victims of rape in Darfur, with tribal elders in Afghanistan. She

touched the lives of many across the world. Her knowledge and experience

came together with her empathy and compassion and gave the voiceless

strong and powerful voice in Parliament. Where she showed vision

and courage are standing up for refugees and Syria. Jo Cox was a

woman of courage and conviction. She fought passionately for the things

he believed in, she fought for her constituents in Batley and Spen. She

fought for those overseas who could not fight for themselves. And she

fought to make this country a better place. My Lords, to be a member of

Parliament, is both after -- and honour and a privilege. It is

littered the elected but to serve your constituents, -- it is an

honour to be elected, but to serve your constituents is deep and

lasting honour. Tragically, Jo Cox lost her life in the line of

Parliamentary duty, representing the people she was elected to serve. To

be involved in politics is to be dedicated to public service, driven

by a desire to make things better for our community and country and

our world. And the days since her death, she has come to embody what

is decent and good in our democracy. Too often, we see fear and division

dominator Too often, we see fear and division

dominate our debate. Jo rejected that approach, she wanted to build a

country which was united. The words of her maiden speech in the Commons

have been often quoted, because the truth contained in death intercity

is there. -- in death intercity is there. We are far more in common

than that that divides us. It is time to stop the anger and ask

ourselves what sort of country we want to be. What can we do to truly

on a Jo Cox who in her life said no to the easy option of cynicism and

took the much harder route of making the world a better place. Jo Cox's

murder is a wake-up call to all of us. If we can show an iota of the

courage and love that she showed in her life, or one out of the

compassion of bravery that her husband has changed since her death,

-- one ounce of the compassion, we will create the better world that Jo

lived and worked for. My Lords, her family, friends, constituents, our

country and the global community, are so much poorer because of Jo

Cox's death. But the world and the lives of countless people were made

so much better by her life. Those named in the memory of her

remarkable life of compassion and -- so may the memory of her remarkable

life of passion and commitment remain with us all. I speak on

behalf of Lord Crewe game, who is absent and regrets not being here,

and I speak on behalf of my crossbench colleagues. I associate

myself and these benches with the remarks already made by the noble

Baroness Smith and noble Lords. We on these benches join others in

sending our condolences to the family and friends of Jo Cox, Madrid

parliament. In particular, our thoughts are with her husband

Brendan and that two children. They have had their wife and mother taken

away from them in such tragic, violent and cruel circumstances. The

remarkable and extensive tributes paid to Jo Cox from across the

political spectrum and across the world following her death is a

testament to her character, commitment, personality and respect

she was held in. Whilst admired and respected by all who knew her, Jo

Cox was not widely known nationally. But many today including myself

should sorely wish they had known and met her. One friend from a Hindi

charity, the name of which means shout or make noise, described her

as an advocate for the voiceless and those in poverty. Seeing her picture

in a T-shirt with the logo of the parliament tug-of-war fund rising

challenge between Lords and Commons, for MacMillan Cancer Support, defied

her. As a politician, a philanthropist and sportsperson. In

an e-mail forwarded to me, another friend of hers said this. Jo brought

out the best in everyone, even when she was being tough. Quick to put

people at ease, with her bubbly personality, even when recruiting

people to join her to climb her beloved did Scottish mountains,

apparently she enjoyed backing Munro 's. Her love of Scottish mountains

reflected in the name of her son. The same friend also talked about

humanity. She said Jo would see the same unanimity in the eyes of a

doubtful child, -- eight Darfur child, a Syrian refugee or a lonely

octogenarian. She worked for many charities but one close to my own

interest is when she worked with Sarah Brown and the White ribbon

Alliance to reduce maternal death in developing countries. Her efforts

made a difference. As an MP, she made a huge impact.

She spoke on subject close to her heart and raising concerns to

constituents. Clearly, she was a hard-working member of Parliament.

But she died a violent death while serving her constituents has shown a

light on this important component of our democratic process. -- that she

died. And the risks MPs face in the course of their duties. Even more so

how women MPs. We all owe much to those in public life, especially our

MPs. It is they who keep our democracy alive. For which, we

should be grateful. I pay tribute today to Jo Cox, member of

Parliament, whose life has been tragically cut short, but she still

had much more together. The nation clearly has lost a rising star. Our

thoughts and prayers are with her family and their great loss. I speak

on the half of the archbishops and bishops and the Church of England in

not wanting to repeat what has already been said, but to associate

ourselves with those remarks. With deep sympathy to Brendan and the

children and the wider family and to the members of the other place. We

live with our mortality and the fragility of civilisation. It is not

very deep and it can be easily penetrated. But when I heard of her

death in my office in Leeds I was reminded of those words from Julius

Caesar. Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant

never taste of death, but once. My Lords, there are many cowards around

who have died in -- inside. And Jo was the antithesis of that. She was

full of life, passionate, intelligent and she was always

generous. And her constituents, who I have spent the last few days with,

are unequivocal about that. She said in her maiden speech that she was

made in Yorkshire. And she went on to talk about manufacturing in

Yorkshire. But her credibility was not only that she was local and that

people knew where she had grown up and her family still live there, but

she had travelled the world, engaged with issues, many of which we

discuss, but of which we have very little first-hand knowledge. If I

want to hear about refugees, I prefer to hear someone who knows

what they are talking about, because they hang in there. And Jo Cox were

certainly that. Christians look through a resurrection shaped lens

called Hope. And appalling though her death is, I do want to pay

tribute not only to Herbert to her constituents, who over the last

weekend have had to engage with their own shock and grief in many

cases -- and in many cases anger. -- to her constituents. Many places

have opened and will continue to open to create a commonplace which

people can live with their emotions and responses in. With their own

memories of Jo Cox, not only their MP, but a daughter of their place.

We pray that she will rest in peace and that her family will find peace.

I pray that there still will be remembered more with the manner of

her living them in the manner of her dying. As we look to the future from

these benches, we would say with confidence that death of violence

and destruction cannot and will not have the final word. But if we want

to be the answer to our own prayers, then some 23 makes it clear. Then we

are the people who will be the rod and the staff that will enable her

friends and her family to continue as life continues for them. My

Lords, the tragic death of my great friend Jo Cox is devastating and I

send all my love to Brendan, their beloved children and her proud and

devoted parents, Gordon and Jean. She came to work with me in the

European Parliament is nearly 20 years ago as my diary secretary.

Within weeks, it was obvious that she is a hugely intelligent,

effervescent young woman who was going to do much more than the --

than administer my logistical needs. She very rapidly became an innovator

of thought and action. Our close and deep friendship was made then and it

has enriched my life ever since. I was overjoyed when she had her

lovely children and thrilled by her continual and earned successes,

including her election to her native Batley and Spen last year. She has

as I anticipate it being an outstanding parliamentarian. When

she left me, her capacity for original thinking, practical deeds

and team leadership showed that she was, as one of her colleagues said,

pocket rocket. For the internationalist course of a

development and justice she worked throughout her life. She was a

unique mixture of high intelligence, gaiety, bravery, energy and

kindness. And she had an endless capacity for hard work. Her whole

life was dedicated to her fellow human beings. In her constituents,

in Syria and Africa and elsewhere, where she offered practical and

useful compassion. She fought tirelessly on every front for

justice and against prejudice and poverty. She not only did nothing

bad in her life, she much more importantly, successfully strove to

always too good. Happily she was no saint, she was mischievous, Merry,

irreverent as well as focused, determined, resilient and brave. I

feel cheated by the lost of this precious and valiant young woman.

Our country and world has been robbed of a unique talent. I cannot

imagine what madness could have taken this truly wonderful young

woman from us. It has punished goodness with badness. It has left

so many of us feeling of emptiness. We must overcome that. Jo Cox would

have said... Don't mourn, work and organise and campaign for a better

world." I hope that we would and will heed her. Jo was beautiful

inside and out. She was brave, bold. As the world now knows, she was a

truly extraordinary woman, but she was also utterly normal. A

working-class Yorkshire lass with a strong family, she adored her

children and put them first. She was a wife, daughter, sister and friend.

She understood the community she served. She had expect drastic

capacity for connecting with people. -- a fantastic capacity. She climbed

mountains and in camp worked in countries torn apart by conflict.

Her enthusiasm for life was infectious. It is true that if you

bump into her during the day your day got better her life was devoted

to changing the world. Many of us say we want to change the world. But

that is exactly what she did. Through work with those fleeing war

and hunger and through her work as a member of Parliament. She was a

powerful advocate who gave a voice to the voiceless and fought

passionately against injustice. She was a great human being. She loved

this country, but she was a real European and a citizen of the world.

She was recognised as a young global leader. The fact that her 42nd per

code on Wednesday -- her 42nd birthday on Wednesday is being

commemorated is a testament to her global reach. She literally touched

lives throughout the world. In my book, Jo is the best sort of

politician. Labour to the call, but she understood there are good people

in most parties and sometimes, in order to bring about change coming

to reach out to those of different political persuasion. She knew how

to build bridges. And also have to disagree in an agreeable wary. Her

murder was a tragedy that they are terrible and lasting impact. But

also an attack on our society and democracy. As an optimist, hope and

believe it will have a lasting effect on the way we do politics and

the way politicians are regarded by the public. Public service should be

celebrated. Politicians follow a noble profession. Most do a great

job. Too often, they are undermined by the corrosion of cynicism and

from the content that is dangerous and contagious. Someone wrote in the

memorials... You cannot kill democracy. My Lords, we will not let

that happen. But democracy is fragile. Our politicians are

vulnerable. Her life and words are a testament to the fact that there is

more in our communities that unite us than divides us. And the Prime

Minister and Jeremy Corbyn laying wreaths gave us a message of unity.

There are times for debate, but also to stand together. Despite the fact

she worked in the most difficult and fragile parts of the world, where

lives are degraded, she never ceased to love people and love life. She

was generous in friendship, fun and I will remember her for many things.

My fondest memory of a -- is of an early evening last summer. Summer at

the cottage, that was the only way for the adventurous family to cook.

Her beautiful children were running around whilst she and others put the

world to rights. The tone of democracy, decency and tolerance was

set by Brendan on a remarkable statement he crafted so soon after

her murder. Me that they continue in our politics and public life. May

her unquenchable spirit live on. My auntie said she voted for Jo Cox

this week. What she said was that she voted Remain because she was

advised to do so. Jo Cox talk to her and my aunt thought she was lovely.

And she voted for her and joined the rest of the world in our admiration

for this woman, who we hope our politicians should be like. I was

born in Batley and Spen and so was my family. My father was a Labour

Party member and I am proud to have been made in Yorkshire as well.

I joined ordinary people to pay respect to this amazing woman and

her family in Birstall yesterday. There was such a sense of deep

sadness and loss, and talking to people, they know the international

and national significance of the political assassination of the local

and much loved MP. Ordinary, decent Yorkshire folk who cannot believe

that this happened in their town. I was not sure whether I should speak

today because unlike others, I only knew and grew to admire Jo Cox in

the last few years. But my family and friends said a local Yorkshire

voice should be heard in this House today. And that I was to say that

this is not what the people Batley and Spen alike. And to say how

terribly shocked they are at the waist of the lovely, warm, vibrant,

effective, honest and special politician who belonged to them. And

they wonder, like my auntie Marie, who said yesterday, what have we

done to create a world where this can happen? Jo was committed to

bringing the voices of those outside the corridors of power inside its

walls and in that spirit I wanted this House today to hear from a few

of those who do not work in Parliament but who you Jo as a

friend, mother and a college. From her school friends, Louise and

Heidi. We have always known Jo was special. We're not surprised at how

many people man know this. We love you like a sister. You will be

greatly missed, you funny, bright and wonderful girl. From Katie, a

university friend. Jo was human, she had fears and she spoke about them.

But she ensured that love triumphed over fear. Jo radiated love. From

Simon and Jenny, family friends. We remember Jo on her wedding day,

tucking up our wedding dress to play football with the children, running

around the woods, taking the kids on a hike to spot badges at night,

cooking us nettle soup. Her fingers tingling because she couldn't find

the right goals. Dancing at a festival. She will live a great hole

in this world, but let it not be in vain. From Michelle, I would go

around the office tidying up after her, picking up bits of clothing,

cycling gear, he straighteners. She was a stickler on making sure I had

blocked out time in the diary so she could be with the children. I will

miss my friends so very much but I will always be inspired by her. From

Tom and his family. The last time we saw her and be said a light-hearted

fare well, she said this of motherhood. I love creating moments

of magic for them, it is my favourite part of being a mother.

And she did every single day. But maybe without realising it, she did

the same for every person she met. She sought solutions, not barriers.

She attacked problems like a bag of nettles and blitzed them into soup.

When so much has been written and said about her death, I hope people

will remember Jo for her life but of more than anyone I knew, she cruelly

let her values, not just exposed them. When I lose my way and my

voice, I hope the memory of Jo bath eye friendship and unwavering

commitment to fight for a better world will strengthen me with some

of her courage and optimism. Of the many messages from her houseboat

neighbours, he is just one. -- UAs. She is very special for her kindness

and care and will be remembered by everyone who knew her, also people

who heard about her. Her body was kindness and care. Lastly, another

university friend, Jane Brady. Most of all, Jo was a man who deeply

loved her children and want to do well to be a better place for all

children. The last time we spoke, she was very tired. The kids had

been poorly and she wondered if she really was making a difference. I

just want to say to her, look at the world now, Jo, it is so much better

for having had you in it. My Lords, it is most impossible to express how

devastated I am by what has happened to Jo. Jo was a truly remarkable

person. Remarkable for the wonderful food that she and Brendan could

produce in the tiny, cramped galley of their narrow boat. Remarkable for

their love of wild country in the borders of Wales or amongst their

beloved Scottish mountains. Remarkable of all for the

astonishing amount that she had achieved in only a year as an MP. Jo

will also be remembered as a remarkable, bright, energetic and

highly respected student at Pembroke College in Cambridge, the college of

which I am now the master. She was and is much loved by her fellow

students, and especially by those who taught her. As students and

fellows have in recent weeks been collecting funds to support Syrian

refugees. We will now be making our collective donation in Jo's name. In

due course, we will hope to establish a studentship in her

memory for a refugee student or for someone from a background like hers,

who might otherwise find it difficult to come to Cambridge. Jo

stood for the politics of hope and love. She has been cruelly taken

from us by fear and hate. And there has been too much fear and hate, has

there not, in recent weeks? We must dedicate ourselves to continue her

work. I knew Jo because we back -- both worked for the connects, for

the browns, for the labour women's network, and we both had a habit of

ending up in refugee camps. In the run-up to Jo's election as an MP she

told me that my diary had nearly put her off. The thing is, she said, my

constituency could never caused me as much grief is yours. This is the

only thing Jo was wrong about. Jo has suffered more than anyone of us

in Parliament. Joel has given more than any one of us in Parliament.

Therefore, Jo now represents more than anyone of us in Parliament. Jo

represents civilisation in much the same way as her murderer represents

barbarism. Glenys told us that she was no saint, but let me tell you

why she was an angel. She is one of a tiny percentage of the world's

population, a truly, truly infinitesimal percentage of the

world's population, who genuinely care about other people's children

as much as they care for their own, and then act on it. But apart from

being an angel, Jo was also a proper policy person and she would want us

to be talking about the policies as much as the personality. And because

she was an angel, she would most likely be the first to point out we

mustn't just rage against her murderer, we must seek to understand

what leads an isolated, mentally ill man to kill. What is it that whipped

him up into a frenzy? Who is it that whipped up into the frenzy? Because

it was not Jo. Ordered all of us with him into a frenzy? Was it

written pubs -- Britain's public discourse that whipped him into a

frenzy? Then our cultural discourse must change and that must be Jo's

legacy, a kinder, more tolerant Britain. And in that kind of

Britain, one of the first questions is, just how many isolated and

mentally ill people are there among us? Which policy failures have

contributed to their plight, and why aren't those isolated and mentally

ill people not our priority, not an afterthought? Why are we not heeding

the police when they say the single biggest shared factor of extremists

who carry out terror attacks, whether Islamic extremists or white

British nationalists, is untreated mental health issues? Jo would ask,

why are our mental health services Cinderella services? In fact, she

did ask that in Parliament. And why do poorer communities in general and

refugees in particular is always have to pay the highest price? This

is what Jo said a few weeks ago when speaking in favour of the amendment

on refugee children. She said, Syrian families are being forced to

make an impossible decision. Stay and faced starvation, rape,

persecution and death, or make a powerless journey to find century.

Who can blame desperate parents wanted to escape the horror?

Children being killed on the way to school. I know I would risk life and

limb to get my two precious babies out of that hellhole. And it is hard

to think about Jo's precious babies today, even if they have an

extraordinary family and a father, Brandon, who radiates love and is

surely the most dignified man in Britain. -- Brendan. Jo concluded,

any MP who has seen the desperation and fear on the faces of children

trapped in camps across Europe must surely feel compelled to act. I urge

them to be brave and bold, that is what Jo said. That is how I conclude

this tribute to Jo. I urge everyone who contributes to Britain both

black public discourse to be brave and bold. -- Britain's public

discourse. I ask parliamentarians to transcribe her kindness into

legislation because that is how we drain the hate that killed her.

Tragedy brings focus, Jo represent us now in a way others do not. Her

words mean even more narrow and unless we heed the tone of her

words, how life could have been lost in vain and not just for the sake of

Jobar for British democracy, that can never be. The Jo Cox was proud

to be a member of the Labour Party, and that made the family as proud of

her. There are some people in families as well as political

parties who you try to judge but Jo was someone who improved your day.

She was a passionate believer in the power of good, and many dark corners

of the world have lost a passionate human rights defender. So many

people have lost a woman who was a joy and an inspiration to work with.

People who she had worked with for nearly two decades, in Parliament,

in the Labour Party offices, at party headquarters and party offices

up and down the country. Even before she became an MP, how many friends

-- how many friends, as well as my friends and from -- former

colleagues in Gordon Brown's offices, valued her insight and

compassion, not least in the work she did with Sarah Brown and women's

health. They are all part of this tribute to Jo, who loved life, her

country, our world and most of all her family. I met Brendan when he

was a student and I know that he has shown himself to be so brave and so

strong. We mourn their loss but he and her family should know that all

of us are absolutely and resolutely united and determined to counter the

hate that killed Jo and to prove that hate dart-mac sorry, that hope

does beat hate. I did not know Jo very well and of course I had every

expectation and hope I would get to know her better and work more

closely with her in the months and years ahead. She came to see me some

three years ago as chair of labour women's network to talk about an

idea she had for a women's think tank. We discussed what that might

look like but of course, we went onto other issues, international

development, women in Parliament, and other passions. I assumed that

with power, with a charming energy, that think tank would go ahead, but

it was not to the because some few short months later she was elected

and the think tank was put on the back burner, maybe something we

should ponder again. She came to see me about a year ago with a friend.

She brought that friend, who was a Conservative who wanted to be a

woman MP will stop not all members of other parties are so generous as

to share their friends with other parties, and indeed, a living

embodiment of power, as she says, we have far more in common with each

other than things that divide us. My Lords, initially, I was concerned

that this terrible, tragic death would put women off coming forward.

But I wonder if in fact that is the case. I hope perhaps that her

passion, her inspiration, compassion, will fact encourage

women who have got what it takes, the resilience, to do so, there

could be no better tribute to her if they do. For 20 years, I knew and

cherished Jo Cox as a friend dart-mac Order. I do apologise but I

think there are two speakers because the noble Lord is going to conclude

the tributes. My Lords. Jo Cox was my MP.

She was savagely attacked and murdered on the street just yards

from where we were due to campaign on an issue about which we both

cared passionately. Europe. That was not to be. Jo had strongly held

principled views. She was willing to work with all those who would make a

difference. Following her murder there has been an outpouring of love

for Jo. The floral tributes placed in the marketplace grow daily.

Yesterday over 100 came within just one hour. The messages speak of real

help given, concerns listened to, anxieties lightened. People in her

constituency of Batley and spend knew who she was. Jo in her too

brief time as our MP visited countless schools, community groups

and businesses. Everywhere she went she gave support and encouragement.

Be ambitious. Yes you can, was her mantra. Be positive. The hopeful.

The evening she died, the local church held a vigil, the church was

packed. Literally, standing room only. They included people from all

faiths and none. Christians, Muslims, Sikhs together. Morning.

The following day I had reason to work into Birstall. In Yorkshire,

when you meet someone in the street, you say hello. That day the mood was

heavy, sombre. Nobody wanted to speak. So there were no words. But

there was an understanding that what had happened to Jo was a tragedy

beyond words. And awful barbaric attack on her, a huge, overwhelming

sense of loss of a special person whose life was so brutally cut short

and, yes, a sense of anger that our democracy had been violently this

merchant. -- besmirched. I was speaking to some people yesterday.

Jo had been to their school several times. At first they said no one was

interested in politics, it was pointless. But no more. Jo Hart MPs

to many to show what could be campaigned by political campaigning.

Especially the girls. We in Batley and Spen have lost a remarkable

girl. The country has lost a spirited advocate for the poor and

dispossessed wherever they live. Her family has lost the person they

love. We are all the poorer for her passing. My Lords, Jo Cox erupted in

my inbox about six months ago. The voice was demanding not to be

ignored. As I soon discovered, not to be resisted either. She demanded

that I work with her to help identify the cause of the starving

in the besieged cities of Syria. I met with her, how could I

conceivably resist? I was very privileged to do it. I'd worked with

her for some months. I have to say, she did the work, not me. I have to

say, she writes extremely well. She wrote. Her energy and commitment

moved the public debate to public attention. Yesterday, I looked at

the last time I saw her, three weeks ago. In two big fashion, she wrote,

I'm sorry to disturb your bank holiday break, please will you sign

the above attachment. I did, of course. I wrote back and said, you

are wonderful. Of course, thanks. I have so much to do with the

referendum I have so little time to do anything else. I said, the people

of Syria are so lucky to have you. She wrote back, keep up the good

work, X. What else would you expect? We talked about the starving in

Syria and how we could make politics more sensible. How we could deliver

on her passion expressed in her maiden speech to celebrate

diversity. We spoke about a poem and she insisted I send it to her. I

have to confess, I forgot. I will quote it now because I think it sums

up the value of life as some others have said cut too tragically short

but lived extraordinarily well. Goes like this: we are all the more one

because we are many. We have left an ample space for love in the gap

where we were sundered. In our likeness shines the radiance of a

common creation like mountain peaks in the morning sun. Those were the

values for which she lived her life and, perhaps, for which she may have

died. If we do our best to live to those values, our politics will be

more successful, our nation more successful and secure. My Lords, may

I express my gratitude for my colleagues on all sides of the house

to Jo Cox and say also to those who haven't voiced their sympathy this

afternoon that we do understand that it is nonetheless deeply felt and

sincerely felt. For 20 years I knew and cherished Jo Cox as a friend and

as a young woman of great personal and political vivacious must. In

life, she was brilliant in all respects. Her death was appalling in

its ugly brutality and dreadful injustice. As I reeled with a

horrified shock of hearing what had happened to Jo, I confess, my Lords,

I felt misery mixed with hatred. Hatred for whoever had terrified and

killed her. Hatred for The Times and the conditions which had made

someone feel that they were justified in being brutally extreme.

Then I realised that my outrage was useless. Not for the first time, I

recognised that hate cannot be beaten with hatred. Jo Cox would

have said do not hate in my name. She might even have quoted Gandhi.

And I for an eye makes the whole world blind. Then she would have

offered a brave, rational response to the malicious incoherence of an

environment in which a minority of people think they can write and

speak and do violence to anyone if they have an excuse of enthusiasm,

or Offense, of partisan ship, or even of a what form of Pat Richards.

My lord, Jo's response would not have lacked passion. She was never

cold or clinical. This spirited woman would have centred on realism

and been driven by rationalism. She would have pursued the cause of the

rage and put bold ideas into action to counteract them. We know that

because that is what she always did when confronted by a new monetary,

bigotry, injustice or the needs of her constituency. Now, we are part

of the reasonable majority and we must employ truth against divisive

fiction and distortion. Reality against prejudice. Hard-headed

common-sense against delusion. We have two combat hatred in its

public, lethal forms, in the bilious preaching of demagogues, in the sly

dog whistles of populists and when it loses as a cowardly, anonymous

social media secretion. I Lords, maladjusted individuals may claim

their responsibility is diminished, politicians and newspapers with

voices that shape views may not. We have to fight hatred that is incited

and nourished by those whose purposes are served by fostering

fear, fear of change, fear of insecurity, fear of foreigners. That

is our duty, not simply to ourselves but to our democracy and to the

British people's sense of decency. We cannot allow Benham to displace

mutual respect. We cannot permit intolerance to intimidate tolerance.

We cannot accept that a convention of hating can ever be allowed to

prevail over the greatest, strongest, most civilised British

quality, of live and let live. History teaches too many lessons. If

temporary rationality concedes ground, the space is invaded by

intemperate, irrational, always with horrific results. That is why we and

all who recoil from the politics of hate must never make the concession,

we must never stop confronting those who seek political profit from

encouraging the neuroses of the threat and resentment. Young Jo Cox

did not concede. That's why her short life was so productive, so

radiant it deserves to be forgotten. Because it was unforgettable. Here,

here. I beg to move that the house do now adjourn. That the house to