Members’ Business: The 10th Anniversary of the Death of Jo Cox

Jenny Young S7M-00180 The 10th Anniversary of the Death of Jo Cox—That the Parliament acknowledges the 10th anniversary of the death of Jo Cox, who was murdered on 16 June 2016; notes that, until her death, Jo served as the Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen from May 2015; further notes that she was known as a passionate campaigner, activist and humanitarian; understands that her murder prompted a national conversation about the safety and security of elected representatives and the need for greater civility in politics; acknowledges that Jo has left a lasting legacy, including the Jo Cox Foundation, a charity that calls for more respect in politics, and The Great Get Together, an annual nationwide celebration centred on Jo’s message that “we have more in common than that which divides us”; celebrates the work of the Jo Cox Foundation, including the Jo Cox Women in Leadership Programme, which aims to support women in developing their skills and participating fully in public life; acknowledges that, in the decade since Jo’s murder, further acts of violence against elected representatives have occurred, including the murder of Sir David Amess in 2021, and notes the view that, as a new session of the Scottish Parliament begins, all MSPs should commit to fostering a more respectful political culture and remember that they have more in common than that which divides them.