YEP Says: Commons tribute to Jo who fought for better world

a white rose lay on an empty chair in the House of Commons 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.

Mrs Cox, helped by a background with Oxfam which had taught her the value of co-operation, 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.

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.”

It was said 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.YEP Says: Commons tribute to Jo who fought for better world