Tributes have flooded in for MP Jo Cox whose funeral was held on Friday morning.
The private service for family only was held in her local constituency of Batley and Spen. Hundreds lined the street in Heckmondwike and Batley as the cortege passed. In a statement, her family said they had been “overwhelmed and touched by the love and support people have shown us”.
Cox died on 16 June after she was attacked in her constituency.
Reuters – Jo Cox’s funeral began at 1030 on Friday morning.
Brendan Cox, the MP’s husband, issued a message of hope to those grieving the Nice terror attack, details of which emerged hours before the funeral began. 84 people were killed on the French riviera and 18 people critically injured.
Cox posted on Twitter saying he was “thinking of all victims of hatred today”.
He said: “Jo would ask us not to fight hate with hate but draw together to drain the swamp that extremism breeds in.”
Jo wld ask us not 2 fight hate with hate but draw together 2 drain the swamp that extremism breeds in.Thinking of all victims of hatred 2day
— Brendan Cox (@MrBrendanCox) 15 July 2016
Christians on the Left, a campaign group affiliated to Cox’s own Labour party, called on people to “breathe deep before we tweet or speak”.
On the day of Jo Cox’s funeral, let’s take a breath, & pledge in this strange season to breathe deep before we tweet or speak #disagreewell
— ChristiansontheLeft (@ChrLeft) 15 July 2016
A number of Cox’s colleagues in the Labour party paid their tributes to her. David Lammy, MP for Tottenham and a Christian, said:
An important message on the day of Jo’s funeral. All my thoughts and prayers are with you Brendan and your family. https://t.co/LCYtjOqNju
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) 15 July 2016
A number of other Christian MPs also tweeted their condolences:
Today we say goodbye to Jo Cox. I shall remember her laughter, energy &courage, not how she was taken from us.#moreincommon #LoveLikeJo
— Mary Creagh (@MaryCreaghMP) 15 July 2016
Today is funeral of Jo Cox & we sadly witness more senseless cruel violence in Nice @BBCNews
— Barry Sheerman (@BarrySheerman) 15 July 2016
Me too. Much love to @MrBrendanCox and all Jo’s beautiful family. #MoreInCommon #LoveWins ❤️ https://t.co/iYgbTvkEDD
— Catherine McKinnell (@CatMcKinnellMP) 15 July 2016
