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Hannah Phillips

If the Prime Minister is serious about fixing Britain, people must feel like they belong

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Olivia Field, CEO, The Jo Cox Foundation

There is an urgent message for our new PM: to bring back hope, we need connection.

Our new Prime Minister has promised to make our politics and economy work again, and bring back hope. But we must remember that hope is not only the result of economic opportunity or growth – it lies in a sense of belonging. Ultimately, the strength of a society is not measured in its GDP, but in the bonds between its people, and in the connection between its communities.

June marked 10 years since Jo Cox was murdered. After we lost Jo, politicians promised to address the rising tides of hate, reject division, and foster the kinder, more respectful politics Jo championed.

But we must honestly ask: have those promises been kept?

Today, Britons feel increasingly divided. Our research with More in Common UK reveals a stark connection gap: while 59% of those who are financially comfortable feel connected to their community, that drops to just 26% among those unable to afford basic essentials. When people worry about their livelihood, they become uniquely susceptible to extremist messages that blame “other” groups for their difficulties.

Our research also shows millions are profoundly lonely – particularly younger people.
But loneliness worsens when coupled with a loss of agency. In fragmented communities, people feel superfluous, as if nobody would notice if they didn’t show up tomorrow. Extremist movements understand this. They step into the vacuum, offering identity, certainty, and a sense of “mission” where society has failed to.
If mainstream society does not provide a “we” based on shared values and collective purpose, malign actors are waiting to provide one based on grievance and exclusion. The opposite of extremism is belonging.

Strong social connection is a hard economic and public health asset. When we invest in connecting our communities, we reap the dividends in stronger social cohesion, improved health and productivity, and greater national resilience.

At The Jo Cox Foundation, we’ve seen firsthand how areas with stronger connections – across sectors and communities – are the best equipped to ease tensions, as they did during the unrest of 2024 and 2025. When division threatened to take hold, leaders who already had trusted relationships, and the phone numbers of local faith leaders, youth workers, and business owners, acted effectively.

This reinforces a fundamental truth for the new Cabinet: cohesion is not a fire extinguisher to be grabbed when things go up in flames; it is the fireproofing you build into the walls every day. If the government wants to prevent future unrest, it must invest in the infrastructure of connection ahead of time.

So, what does that look like?

First, we need a Cross-Government Action Plan on Loneliness. Loneliness is both a symptom and a cause of our fractured social connection. Policy must address the root causes – from neighborhood design and employment support to preventing online harms. No single department can tackle this alone.

Second, the government must formally recognise and fund social and community infrastructure. Libraries, community centres, parks, and the voluntary sector are democratic assets, not peripheral luxuries. Our research shows that community is often forged in “micro-moments” – a brief chat on the street or a neighbourly check-in. But these moments require the physical spaces and the people that bring us together.

The voluntary sector enjoys far higher levels of public trust than central government. This administration has an opportunity to partner with the sector – shifting from a mindset that views communities as deficits to be fixed, to one that views them as strengths to be invested in.

Third, devolution should not stop at shifting power from Westminster to local and devolved governments; it must also pass power to residents. We must design services, systems, and places that give people a genuine voice and purpose. Strong communities are built by people, not for them. When residents are supported to have agency, individuals transition from feeling superfluous to feeling needed.

Finally, this requires a fundamental shift in our political culture. We cannot expect communities to foster respect and belonging if our national politics continues to mirror and amplify division.

The future of our democracy will not only be decided in local, devolved or national government. It will be decided in the everyday spaces where people choose to come together rather than turn away. But it is the responsibility of this government to provide the right conditions for this to happen.

The Strength of Disagreeing Agreeably

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This blog was originally published on the Centenary Action website: https://centenaryaction.org.uk/uncategorised/the-strength-of-disagreeing-agreeably/ 

Coming from different political traditions, Labour’s Natasa Pantelic and Conservative Claire Pearsall came together to write this article during the week marking ten years since the murder of Jo Cox MP, reflecting on Jo’s belief that we have far more in common than that which divides us and on the power of working across party lines.

Politics is about people. It’s about knowing the change you want to make to create a better world and working with people who share your vision to achieve it. This isn’t always done by working with people in your own political party alone but through cross-party working, and it happens more often than you think.

We are sometimes asked why we “do politics” and our answer is simple – it is the best way to make meaningful change to the country, and we have the privilege of working with amazing people who are just as passionate and committed as we are to public service and getting things done for the communities we live in. From the first moment we walked into Parliament, we knew we had to be there.

This week marks 10 years since the murder of Jo Cox MP on 16 June 2016, on her way to a constituency surgery to meet with local residents in Batley and Spen – a week before the EU referendum. We cannot continue writing without also mentioning that on 15 October 2021, Sir David Amess MP, was murdered at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea by an Islamist extremist.

Two politicians who often worked across the political divide, dedicated to serving their local communities with huge energy and optimism, killed while fulfilling their public duties. Their individual shields above the green benches in the House of Commons remind MPs, staff and the public of their life and legacy – they will always be remembered.

We are two people who come from different backgrounds, from the Labour and Conservative parties, and disagree on nearly everything, but we always find a way of working together to achieve common goals. This is our strength. We can’t remember exactly how we met but our relationship is important to us – we can disagree agreeably and then have a cup of tea to talk about other things afterwards! It is also a matter of trust – you have to trust people to get things done. You cannot achieve anything on your own in politics.

An important part of politics is having the ability to listen to opposing points of view without dismissing them.  Understanding a different point of view is important not only for common courtesy but also for ensuring you can adequately explain, debate, and persuade others about your ideas. It makes you better at reasoning and sharpens critical thinking which prevents close mindedness.

In last week’s debate on the Legacy of Jo Cox, her sister, Kim Leadbeater MP, spoke powerfully about rebuilding respectful dialogue in our country and to strengthen our democracy, saying:

“We must rebuild respectful dialogue. We need to rediscover the ability to disagree without hatred. Democracy depends on argument, but it also depends on mutual respect. Someone who votes differently from us is not automatically ignorant, wrong, evil or beyond redemption. We must resist the temptation to caricature entire groups of people. We must challenge toxic rhetoric wherever it appears.

We have to invest in our communities. Polarisation grows when people become isolated from one another. Strong communities create empathy, because they bring different people together. Local organisations, youth groups, charities, libraries, sports clubs, faith groups and community centres—all of which we have in our constituencies—play a vital role in strengthening our social bonds. When people know each other personally, hatred becomes much harder to sustain.”

It is vital that we use Jo’s message “that we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us” to bring people together and to teach our young people the art of critical thinking and debate so that they have the tools to navigate a world (especially on social media) that spreads anger and hatred faster than compassion, respect and the truth.

We have serious choices to make as a country for future generations. We hope these choices will promote optimism, encourage collaboration and hope rather than hate and division.

It is on all of us, no matter who we are, to show the leadership in our local communities that this moment is calling for. As we reflect on the life and legacy of Jo Cox not just this week but in the weeks and years to come, let’s use her message to build stronger communities, a more compassionate country, and create a future to be proud of.

Natasa Pantelic has worked in politics for 20 years and is a founding member of the Labour Women’s Parliamentary Staff Network in the UK Parliament. She is a graduate of the Jo Cox Women in Leadership Programme. Natasa has worked for a number of senior Labour MPs, served in local government as a local Councillor for 15 years and is a former parliamentary candidate.

Claire Pearsall is a former Conservative Special Adviser to a Minister for Immigration who has worked in Parliament for 22 years for a number of senior Conservative politicians, served as a local Councillor for 8 years and is also a Political Commentator.

More in Common: Fostering connection across difference in your community

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In March 2026, at Wychavon District Council’s Community Network Conference, we worked with around 60–70 VCSE practitioners to explore how connection is built — and sometimes strained — in communities.

Across two workshop sessions, people were asked to place real examples from their local area on a spectrum between “unity” and “division”. What stood out wasn’t where things landed, but how difficult they were to place at all.

Very few examples sat clearly at one end. Community events, local campaigns and even moments of crisis could be seen as bringing people together by some, while creating tension or discomfort for others.

Our workshop — More in Common: Fostering connection across difference in your community — explored how people working in communities can navigate these differences in practice, and build confidence to engage with them.

Designing the session

The conference, themed “Knowing Your Neighbourhood, because strong communities start with strong connections”, brought together people from across the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in rural Worcestershire.

We were invited to design and deliver a workshop in response to this theme, building on over 10 years of working with community practitioners on social cohesion, including through the More in Common Network — a core project of The Jo Cox Foundation.

The workshop aimed to support community workers in thinking about how they navigate difference and division in their day-to-day practice, and was delivered twice during the conference by Zoe Cumberland — a Worcester-based facilitator specialising in community engagement.

At its core was a simple but challenging question: how do we hold difference, without letting it become division?

What we explored together

We started by asking people what unity and division actually look like in their communities, before asking for their gut reactions to a few scenarios.

Using a “washing line” exercise, people then mapped real examples from across Wychavon along a spectrum between unity and division. These included things like community celebrations (food festivals, VE Day events and Christmas lights), support during crises (such as flooding and missing person searches), Afghan refugee families joining local BBQs, and counter-protests in support of refugees. Alongside this were more contested issues such as tensions around flags and national identity, responses to asylum hotels, housing developments and funding decisions, and antisocial behaviour and social media conflict.

These sparked discussion about how the same activity can create a sense of belonging for some, while feeling divisive or uncomfortable for others.

What people told us

People spoke about the value of stepping outside their own assumptions and approaching difficult conversations in a different way. As one participant put it, “You can’t plan for every scenario but being prepared in general for difficult conversations is possible.” Others reflected on the importance of perspective and pause — “park your personal views and try not to react immediately from your gut feeling response” — and on not feeling alone in these situations.

Many also talked about leaving with a new sense of perspective and energy, with words like “hopeful” used to describe how they felt.

Did we meet our aims?

87% said their understanding of unity and division had improved, 87% felt more confident to play a role in their community, and 94% left with practical tools or ideas they could use.

While most people reported increased confidence, for some the session highlighted gaps rather than immediately building it. We see that as a useful outcome in itself — helping to show where further support or space for reflection may be needed.

Beyond the numbers

Participants talked about how unity often shows up most clearly in moments of crisis, and how quickly perspectives can diverge depending on people’s experiences. There was also reflection on how something described as “community-led” can feel very different from something being “done to” a community.

Overall, a consistent theme was complexity — that experiences of unity and division depend on context, perspective and lived experience.

What’s next

There was strong interest in continuing the conversation, with participants keen to explore how this work could apply in their own contexts.

A few weeks after the event, Cllr Rob Adams, Executive Board Member for Strong Communities, Culture and Sport, said:

“At a time when national conversations can feel increasingly polarised, our local voluntary and community organisations valued the chance to pause, reflect, and think differently about their neighbourhoods. Sessions like this help people recognise their own role in building stronger, more connected communities — something that matters deeply to us in Wychavon.”

What this session reinforced is that building connection across difference doesn’t start with simple answers. It often starts with recognising that people may experience the same issue in very different ways.

For those working in communities, that means creating space to explore that complexity, rather than assuming shared perspectives. The level of engagement on the day suggests there’s a strong appetite for more spaces like this — where people can reflect, test assumptions and build confidence to engage with difference in practice.

If you’re interested in developing something similar — whether for a conference, event, or local programme — we’d love to hear from you. Contact us via [email protected].

The Representation of the People Bill: an opportunity for a more respectful and more representative democracy

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We are pleased to prepare a briefing for the second reading of the recently published Representation of the People Bill. 

We support the bill’s provisions to address harassment including: removing the requirement for agents’ home addresses to be published, improving communication between candidates and the police, extending the disqualification order to include hostility towards election staff, and making hostility an aggravating factor in sentencing. 

Our key calls to strengthen the bill include:  embedding standards of conduct through requirements for political parties, dissemining candidate safety resources consistently and addressing online harms through a code of practice for social media platforms.  

The Jo Cox Foundation makes meaningful change on issues that the late Jo Cox MP was passionate about. The charity works in two areas: nurturing stronger communities and championing respect in politics. Underpinning this work is the understanding that we have more in common than that which divides us. Jo Cox was murdered on 16 June 2016 in the place she loved – Batley and Spen – doing the work she loved, as an MP on behalf of her constituents.

Our Respectful Politics and Jo Cox Civility Commission work sees abuse and intimidation of elected representatives as a threat to democracy. Our long-term vision is a political culture where everyone can safely participate in respectful, robust debate in the spirit of Jo’s message that we have “more in common than that which divides us.”

In January, our Chair, Baroness Jan Royall set out our priority calls to action for the elections bill: embedding standards of conduct; making personal addresses private by default; addressing online harms; disseminating candidate safety resources; and promoting political, digital and media literacy.

We welcome the publication of the bill and are pleased to be coordinating with other civil society organisations across the democracy sector.

2026-02-26 The Jo Cox Foundation_Representation of the People Bill_Second Reading_BriefingDownload

New Jo Cox Civility Commission recommendations

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Abuse and intimidation in politics is threatening democracy in  Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland new report finds

The Jo Cox Civility Commission’s report, A Renewed Call to Action for the Devolved Nations, launched today, delivers a clear set of recommendations to curb abuse and promote civility in public life in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In a big election year, the charity, The Jo Cox Foundation, set up after Jo Cox MP was murdered, warns that the scale of abuse and intimidation in politics is threatening our democracy, citing evidence showing:

  • Many elected representatives report not feeling safe enough to participate in public life fully and freely.
  • Abuse and intimidation are driving politicians away.
  • 75% of Senedd Members and Wales constituency MPs said that there were times they felt unsafe in their role
  • Gender-based online abuse of MSPs increased more than a hundred-fold in a year between 2023 and 2024
  • MLAs have experienced abuse, includIng death and rape threats. 

The report’s recommendations, created in collaboration with a range of elected representatives, government officials and civil society, include calls for:

  • The Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and Northern Ireland Assembly to provide more guidance to elected representatives and their families, and make the institutions more inclusive. 
  • The UK Government to ensure Operation Ford, the new police support for local politicians, is sufficiently resourced. 
  • Political parties to enforce codes of conduct. 
  • All candidates and elected representatives to model good behaviour. 

A Renewed Call to Action for the Devolved Nations builds on the Commission’s first call to action launched in Jan 2024. Since then, progress has been made to address abuse in politics. For example, as a result of the Foundation’s recommendations, the Home Office confirmed the expansion of dedicated resources through Operation Ford – an initiative to strengthen the security and protection of locally elected representatives and candidates. 

Baroness Jan Royall, Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation, said: 

“The importance of addressing violence, abuse and harassment in our politics is underlined this year as we approach the tenth anniversary of Jo’s murder.  We work on these issues not only or primarily because of the way that Jo was killed but because of the values with which she lived. Jo believed passionately in robust debate and diverse representation. We call on everyone across society to take action to address abuse and promote a more respectful, inclusive politics.” 

Rt Hon Elin Jones MS, Llywydd of the Senedd said:  

“I welcome the Jo Cox Civility Commission’s report. It represents an important contribution to a discussion which is central to a healthy political environment and public life in general.

“Regrettably, abuse is now pervasive in our politics, and we all have a part to play in fostering a political culture which places greater emphasis on respect, tolerance, and kindness.

“This is especially important in an election year when politics is in the spotlight and when democratic debate intensifies between parties.  

“The Senedd Elections in May should be an exchange of ideas in which candidates focus on their vision for the future of Wales without resorting to personal attacks. Politicians have a responsibility to help set a positive and respectful tone to political debate. 

“I hope the same will be true of voters who can also play a role in detoxifying social media where politicians have faced horrific abuse including threats of physical attacks or even death threats in some cases. 

“If we all take this duty seriously, we can prevent disagreement from descending into abuse and re-set the focus of our politics onto the issues that matter the most to people’s daily lives.”

Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, said: 

“I very much welcome the Commission’s timely report. In recent years we have seen escalating hostility in political debate – hostility that deters people from getting involved in politics, and particularly those groups who are currently and historically under-represented.

The findings of this report highlight that positive change is possible. By embracing the report’s recommendations, we can help build a political culture rooted in civility, compassion and respectful debate – a democracy where everyone can participate without fear or intimidation.

The importance of constant action to protect and enhance democracy cannot be overstated. With the Scottish election approaching, this work becomes even more important.”

Edwin Poots MLA, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said: 

“The report from the Jo Cox Civility Commission highlights that abuse and threats are a growing issue across politics and is an important contribution to the public debate on how to tackle these issues. In Northern Ireland, there has been a significant step change in activity and cooperation between the PSNI, Assembly Commission, Electoral Commission and the Electoral Office.

“In the past year, representatives from all political parties have shared horrific examples of their experiences. Many people will be deterred from entering politics to protect themselves, their family and their mental health. There is also a risk that we overcompensate against vile abuse by curtailing the legitimate passionate debate and scrutiny which are an essential part of parliamentary business. We must therefore all resist accepting despicable, nasty and threatening personal abuse as an inevitable part of politics.”

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said: 

“I welcome this report from the Jo Cox Civility Commission building on its first Call to Action report in 2024 and focussed on the devolved nations. Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our democracy, and the ability to engage in robust debate must always be protected but that must happen within the bounds of the law – never through intimidation or violence. The abuse of elected representatives across the United Kingdom is unacceptable and we must continue to work together to ensure an aggressive minority does not undermine the vibrant democracy we are privileged to have in this country”.

Vijay Rangarajan, Chief Executive of the UK Electoral Commission, said: 

“Addressing the abuse and intimidation of candidates and elected officials is crucial to safeguarding individuals and their families as well as protecting the health of our democracy. Well-run elections require candidates to engage freely with voters without fear for their safety. Addressing this issue requires coordinated action by the UK’s governments, regulators, police, and parties at all levels.

“The Electoral Commission is working across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to improve the safety of candidates, from our education programmes 

and joint work with police forces across the country, to updating the campaigning code of conduct for political parties and campaigners. Ahead of the elections in England, Wales and Scotland this May, we are ensuring candidates have access to clear, practical guidance so they can campaign with confidence.” 

Dan Jarvis MBE  MP, UK Minister of State for Security said: 

“Abuse of politicians is corroding our democracy, silencing voices, and discouraging people from standing for office. Left unchecked, it will have a chilling effect on our politics. 

“I welcome this call to better protect elected representatives in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will continue driving forward our work across government to this end – expanding police support and introducing new laws to deter this behaviour.

“Working with valued partners like the Jo Cox Foundation, we are making clear that we are stronger when we work together, than when division drives us apart.”

Councillor Lis Burnett, Llywydd, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said: 

“The WLGA welcomes this important report by the Jo Cox Civility Commission. Very sadly, councils across Wales are seeing more and more cases where councillors are subjected to threats, intimidation and abuse. This behaviour has no place in our democracy and it’s having a real impact on people who simply want to serve their communities.

“The WLGA has been calling for greater civility in public life for many years, and the Commission’s work reinforces just how important this is. Their updated recommendations for the devolved nations will help strengthen the support available to councillors and highlight where further action is needed.

“Local democracy only works when people feel safe to speak up and step forward. We fully support the Commission’s message that we have more in common than divides us, and we remain committed to working with councils and partners across Wales to promote respect, protect elected members, and help build a healthier political culture.”

Councillor Shona Morrison, President, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), said: 

“COSLA welcomes A Renewed Call to Action for the Devolved Nations and strongly supports the Jo Cox Foundation’s continued leadership in shining a light on abuse, intimidation, and harassment in public life. 

“This report’s recommendations offer an important and timely framework for how councils, local government associations and partners can work together to protect everyone who serves our communities.

“Across Scotland, we are seeing a troubling rise in threatening and abusive behaviour directed at councillors and public servants. This is unacceptable. No one should face violence, harassment or intimidation for doing their job or representing their community.

“We fully endorse the report’s call for a holistic, preventative approach – one that strengthens standards, promotes civility, and ensures that individuals feel safe, respected, and able to participate in local democracy.

“COSLA is committed to working with our member councils and partners to implement practical measures that uphold these principles and foster a healthier public sphere. The safety and wellbeing of all those in public service must remain a shared priority.”

Councillor Billy Webb, President, Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), said: 

“I warmly welcome these recommendations, which represent an important step toward strengthening safety, respect, and democratic participation across local government. Councillors work tirelessly on behalf of their communities, and they deserve to carry out that work free from abuse, intimidation, or fear. By improving risk planning, embedding a culture of civility, and ensuring robust wellbeing and security supports, we create a system that not only protects elected representatives but also safeguards the health of our democracy. NILGA is committed to working with councils and partners across all jurisdictions to put these principles into practice.”

The full report and recommendations are available at www.jocoxfoundation.org/commission 

The summary of recommendations from both reports has also been translated into Welsh and will be available on the website.

About the Jo Cox Civility Commission 

The Jo Cox Foundation wants anyone, regardless of their background, to feel able to participate in our political discourse and be treated with respect.

The Foundation launched the Jo Cox Civility Commission in February 2023 to find and advocate for the implementation of practical, cross-sector  recommendations to address the problem of violence, abuse and intimidation of elected representatives on national and local levels, across the nations and regions of the UK. 

In January 2024 we launched our first Call to Action with 28 recommendations and earlier this year shared a short progress report. In 2026, we are launching the second Call to Action with recommendations for the devolved nations

Our long-term vision is a political culture in which diversity is celebrated and robust debate brings us closer in the spirit of Jo’s message that “we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”

About The Jo Cox Foundation

The Jo Cox Foundation makes meaningful change on issues that the late Jo Cox MP was passionate about. The charity works in two areas: nurturing stronger communities and championing respect in politics. Underpinning this work is the understanding that we have more in common than that which divides us. Jo Cox was murdered on 16 June 2016 in the place she loved – Batley and Spen – doing the work she loved, as an MP on behalf of her constituents.

Our 2025 Highlights

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By Will Fletcher, Interim CEO

2025 has been another important year for all of us here at The Jo Cox Foundation and we’re immensely grateful to all of our supporters who’ve helped make it possible. We’ve shared a few of the highlights for each of our programmes below.

It has been an immense honour to lead the Foundation as Interim CEO since September 2024, and I look forward to continuing as part of the team and working with Olivia Field, our newly appointed CEO, when she starts in the New Year.

The Great Get Together

In June 2025 we marked nine years of the Great Get Together. Once again, it was an impactful campaign with people running events throughout the UK to show that we have “more in common than that which divides us”. As a result, 88% of attendees said that they felt a greater connection to others in their community.

2026 will be an even bigger year for the Great Get Together as we will celebrate our 10th campaign just after the 10th anniversary of Jo’s murder. Planning for this is already well underway, and we’re really pleased to have raised over £17,000 through a crowd funding campaign to support next year’s Great Get Together, which will take place from 19-21 June 2026.

Respectful Politics

Much of our Respectful Politics work this year has focussed on continuing to make progress towards getting all of our Civility Commission recommendations adopted, with 23 of our original recommendations now either fully or partially adopted.

This year, with support from the JRSST Charitable Trust we’ve also consulted with partners and stakeholders on our forthcoming second call to action for the devolved nations. We look forward to publishing this new report in early 2026. 

The More in Common Network

The More in Common Network has continued to grow, and we’ve been delighted to welcome new members to the Network. We now have 17 groups and 4 partnerships, all carrying out their own work in their communities to bring life to Jo’s more in common message.

In May, we held our first in-person More In Common in Action event. This one-day event held in Manchester brought together 45 attendees from across the UK who all work to strengthen their communities. It was an exciting day where different members of the network had the opportunity to learn from one another. We’re looking forward to hosting our second event in 2026.

Tackling Loneliness

Thanks to funding from the Astra Foundation, we embarked on a new loneliness project, through which we have been establishing a Loneliness Policy Group for voluntary sector organisations, so that we can make the best case to government for going further to address loneliness.

This year has focussed on a lot of the groundwork, building partnerships and relationships with other organisations and working with the new secretariat for the APPG on Tackling Loneliness and Connected Communities. We’re excited to continue developing this work going forward.

Bridging and Belonging

Our Bridging and Belonging project in Batley, Dewsbury and Heckmondwike has gathered significant momentum this year. Over the past 12 months we’ve worked with a Community Steering Group to engage over 500 members of the community through 21 listening events. As a result of this, we’ve co-produced a shared vision for the future of these three towns, which we look forward to sharing in early 2026.

With support from One Community Kirklees and the Sir George Martin Trust, we are now developing the next stage of this work, which will focus on community-led social action initiatives that can begin to bring this vision to reality.

Senior Leadership

It’s been a year of significant appointments for our leadership here at the Foundation. We welcomed Baroness Jan Royall as our new Chair in September 2025, and we recently appointed Olivia Field as our new CEO, who will join the Foundation officially in January 2026.

The democratic impact of digital abuse towards women in politics

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“It’s part of the job” says yet another woman politician on her experiences of receiving digital abuse – from sexist slurs to ‘deep fakes’ to rape and death threats.  

As part of my work at The Jo Cox Foundation, I hear from politicians at all levels of government across the UK and the world about their experiences of abuse.  We campaign to address violence, abuse, harassment and intimidation towards all elected representatives through the Jo Cox Civility Commission. 

We work to address such abuse not only because of the way Jo was killed – while carrying out her public duties as a MP – but because of the values by which she lived. Jo believed passionately in robust political debate and a representative, gender-equal democracy. We believe that abuse in politics harms democracy. 

While abuse can and does impact anyone in public life, growing evidence shows that the nature and impact of abuse towards women is distinct. Women are often attacked because they are women with the intention and/or effect of limiting women’s political participation. 

The stories I hear from women about their experiences are reflected in a growing body of research about the prevalence and nature of gendered digital abuse. A recent Westminster parliamentary survey found that 96% of current MPs have personally experienced threatening behaviour, with threats of sexual violence disproportionately experienced by women and disabled MPs. In a 2025 survey , 84% of women councillors in England and Wales reported experiencing abuse or intimidation. Between 2023 and 2024, abuse towards women Members of the Scottish Parliament increased more than a hundred-fold. Even so-called ‘low-level’ incidents and  “digital microaggressions” can be harmful because they normalise abuse. 

Studies in other countries tell a similar story. The Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) research regularly finds that a high number of women parliamentarians across the world experience abuse.  A 2024 study of Italian politicians found that women were targeted more than men, even when they made the same decisions. A New Zealand study using a 2022 survey found that 98% of MPs had experienced harassment with women more likely than men to face most forms of abuse, including being twice as likely to receive death threats.

Such abuse can impact women’s ability to fully and freely participate in politics. Necessary efforts to deal with abuse – from reporting to social media platforms and implementing security precautions – take up time and resources. In a political environment where abuse is expected, women may ‘self-censor.’ Research carried out by academics and the UK Electoral Commission find that many women candidates avoid certain political activities, such as participating in hustings or discussing certain issues.  Abuse clearly affects these individuals and groups, but it also impacts their professional and personal networks, and ultimately undermines the functioning of the wider political ecosystem. 

Diverse political representation strengthens democracies. Study after study shows that better policy decisions are made when political institutions are inclusive of women leaders. Progress towards gender-equal political participation is not guaranteed. Even if current rates of progress are maintained, the UN estimates that gender parity in national legislative bodies globally will take another 38 years and another 130 years for gender parity among heads of state. Here in the UK, the campaign group 50:50 Parliament recently warned that if current opinion polling is translated into seats in the next General Election, the number of women in parliament could fall for the first time in 100 years. 

Digital abuse risks further undermining efforts for equal political representation. Women, especially those with disabilities or from ethnic minority backgrounds are already chronically under-represented in politics and are disproportionately impacted by abuse.  With the rise of abuse in public life, we as a society risk further marginalising women and creating a politics in which only certain demographic groups feel comfortable participating. This lack of diversity would damage the integrity of our political institutions.  In order to strengthen our democracy, we must address digital abuse towards women in politics.

“It shouldn’t be part of the job” is also what many women tell me when they share their experiences of abuse. We believe that we can change political institutions to address abuse and strengthen democracy.  And we are not alone.

Globally, addressing digital abuse, including in political spaces is increasingly seen as a priority. Today, 25 November, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and this year’s theme calls on unity to end digital abuse. The 16 Days of activism calls on individuals, civil society and governments to unite to address digital abuse towards women.

Since we launched the Jo Cox Civility Commission in the UK, we have seen important progress to tackle abuse in politics. Coordination is improving across the Government through the Defending Democracy Task Force. Each local police force now has a specific officer responsible for supporting local politicians, building on the structure to protect MPs, with increased training for police officers to deal with digital harms. The UK Online Safety Act is being implemented to address digital harms. 

Dealing with online abuse must not only be the responsibility of individuals. Addressing this problem demands organisational action and societal culture change. Efforts to address digital abuse in politics must be accompanied by efforts to make political  institutions more equal, such as the ongoing implementation of the Scottish Parliament’s Gender Sensitive Audit. 

We continue to make comprehensive but achievable recommendations to a range of institutions including political parties and local governments. Many aspects of our call to action are shared by other organisations including the  Electoral Commission, campaign groups like Centenary Action,  Elect Her and the Online Safety Act Network, academics including Susan Watson in a recent book on the topic, and the UK Parliament’s Speakers Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections. 

We believe that digital abuse need not be inevitable. We can work towards a society and politics in which diversity is celebrated and everyone can freely and safely participate in public life in the spirit of Jo’s message that we have “more in common than that which divides us.”

Reconnecting the Nation: Renewing Momentum on Tackling Loneliness

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Jo Cox famously said, “I will not live in a country where thousands of people are living lonely lives forgotten by the rest of us.”

Throughout her life, Jo championed the issue of loneliness, recognising it as a serious challenge affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. Together with Seema Kennedy, she established the cross-party Commission on Loneliness, which brought together charities, businesses, and policymakers to drive national action. That work led to the UK becoming the first country in the world to publish a government strategy on loneliness: A Connected Society and to the appointment of the world’s first Minister for Loneliness.

Whenever we speak to international colleagues, they’re often struck by the fact that the UK has a Minister for Loneliness, something still relatively rare around the world. It’s a reminder of how far Jo Cox’s legacy has travelled, and how the UK’s recognition of loneliness as a public policy issue has inspired conversations globally. The existence of that ministerial role signals that tackling loneliness isn’t just a matter of personal wellbeing, but a question of national policy, social connection, and public health.

Seven years on, we can be proud of the progress made, from growing awareness to more embedded approaches across sectors. But loneliness remains widespread, persistent, and deeply unequal in its impact. Tackling it requires renewed focus, leadership, and investment at every level of society.

The Ongoing Challenge

Despite this progress, loneliness remains a major challenge. Around 1 in 4 adults say they feel lonely some or all of the time, and rates are even higher among young people, disabled people, and those on low incomes. Structural issues from digital exclusion to insecure housing and the cost of living crisis continue to shape people’s ability to connect. While awareness has improved, the challenge now lies in ensuring that every sector embeds connection as a priority, not an afterthought.

Looking Ahead

Since Jo first shone a national spotlight on loneliness, awareness has grown enormously. The UK became the first country in the world to appoint a Minister for Loneliness in 2018, and since then we’ve seen loneliness embedded in policy areas from health and social care to transport and community development. The Loneliness Strategy encouraged cross-sector collaboration, while local authorities, businesses, and charities have begun to take loneliness seriously as a public health and social cohesion issue. 

At the Jo Cox Foundation, we know that stronger social connections can help build a more compassionate and cohesive society, one that reflects Jo’s belief that “we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”

Pictured: Jo Cox MP outside the Houses of Parliament

Looking Ahead

As we look to the future, the challenge is to renew momentum and ensure loneliness once again becomes a national priority. The new government represents an opportunity to re-energise leadership on loneliness and to build on the foundations already laid and bring fresh focus, collaboration, and commitment across departments. 

With the tenth anniversary of Jo Cox’s death approaching in June 2026, this is also a moment to reflect on how far her legacy has come and to reaffirm our collective commitment to building the more connected, compassionate country she believed in.

Earlier this year, with support from The Astra Foundation, the Jo Cox Foundation convened a Loneliness Policy Action Group, bringing together organisations across the sector to identify shared priorities for the next phase of national action. Working with the wider loneliness sector and the APPG on Tackling Loneliness and Connected Communities, the group will develop evidence-based recommendations to help the new government renew momentum and deliver meaningful progress on loneliness.

Through this work and our wider partnerships across sectors, the Foundation will continue to ensure that loneliness stays firmly on the national agenda. Tackling loneliness is not only an individual experience to be understood, but a shared challenge that can only be solved together. 

To find out more about the Loneliness Policy Group or to get involved in our work on loneliness policy, please contact [email protected]