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Abuse against women in politics is becoming normalised. That may be the most worrying development of all.

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Olivia Field, Chief Executive of The Jo Cox Foundation 

Across the political spectrum, women now describe harassment, threats and being followed as “part of the job.” It is not only directed at them – their families are increasingly targeted too.

This normalisation should concern anyone who cares about democracy. This is not only a question of civility. It is about who feels able to stand for office, to speak freely once elected, and to remain in public life. Politicians across the board report self-censoring in debates to avoid triggering abuse. Others decide the toll on their families is too high a price to pay. The result is quieter voices and a smaller, likely less diverse, pool of candidates. 

On International Women’s Day, we should be asking: what does this mean for progress towards a truly representative Parliament? A democracy cannot be fully representative if intimidation shapes who is willing to participate.

For years we have worked towards a 50:50 Parliament – not as a symbolic goal, but because more equal representation improves decision-making and ensures women’s lives are properly reflected in policy. But progress risks being slowed down. When girls see women in high-profile roles relentlessly abused online and offline, the message they absorb is not empowerment, but warning. Over a third of young women and girls surveyed by Girlguiding, said they were put off certain careers – including politics – because of the abuse they see those women receive.

At The Jo Cox Foundation, established after the murder of Jo Cox ten years ago, we have seen that change is possible. Dedicated police support for MPs has expanded. Security costs have been removed from candidates’ spending limits. Guidance has improved. Sentencing for harassment is set to be strengthened through the Representation of the People Bill.

These are important steps. But we need to go further. 

Tackling political abuse requires action across the entire system. Social media platforms must enforce their own rules to prevent online harms, deepfakes, mis and dis-information. Political parties must set and uphold higher standards for members and candidates. The government must ensure the public are equipped with the tools to be politically literate. Law enforcement must continue to treat threats against elected representatives with seriousness and consistency.

If we fail, the consequence may not simply be fewer women in politics. It will be a narrower, less effective democracy.

Ten years after Jo Cox’s murder, we face a choice. We can accept abuse as inevitable, or we can decide that public service should not require personal sacrifice at this scale.

If we want the next generation to see politics as a place they belong, the answer should be obvious.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Give to Gain”, so, please give to gain a safer, more representative democracy. 

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Quiet progress, real change: an update from our CEO

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By Olivia Field, CEO

Meaningful impact

Almost a month into my role as CEO, I’ve been struck by just how much meaningful impact The Jo Cox Foundation is having – often quietly, and often behind the scenes.

From influencing national policy to supporting community-led action, this work doesn’t always make headlines. But its effects are real, lasting, and deeply important to the health of our democracy and our communities.

Working towards a more respectful politics

In my first few days, our Respectful Politics lead rather nonchalantly asked me to look at our response to a new policy stopping councillors’ home addresses from being included in local authority registers. This is something the Foundation has long been calling for.

It may sound small, but it makes a significant difference – particularly to the families of elected representatives who too often fear for their safety.

This change is part of a wider set of policy and practice improvements we’ve helped secure through our cross-party Jo Cox Civility Commission, which identifies practical ways to reduce abuse and intimidation of elected representatives. These include the expansion of dedicated police support for locally elected representatives, improved security guidance for families, a new commitment to teach political literacy in schools and more. We will continue to influence parliamentarians to build on this progress during the upcoming Elections Bill – you can see our key calls here.

All of this is about strengthening our democracy, and ensuring that people, no matter their gender, race or background, can participate in politics safely and confidently.

Supporting community-led social action and partnership working

Alongside this national policy work, much of our impact happens at a local level. Some of our work takes place in hyper-local communities. In West Yorkshire, we’ve worked alongside communities to develop a vision for their area, rooted in what they themselves see as their greatest strengths. Elsewhere, we’ve created partnerships in places like Cardiff, Nottingham, Manchester and Staffordshire, connecting and supporting people and organisations working to strengthen social cohesion. 

Through this work, we are creating space for conversations about controversial and challenging issues – conversations that might not otherwise happen.

Many of us worry about raising political or sensitive topics with friends or neighbours, in case we disagree. But what if more of us could disagree and still get on? What if we recognised that, despite our differences, we have more in common than that which divides us?

If we did, we might feel less disconnected – and perhaps better equipped to tackle society’s most complex problems together. These examples of grassroots, community-led social action and partnership working show just how vital this approach is to building resilience, trust and cohesion.

Jo’s message, that we have more in common than that which divides us, feels as urgent now as ever. This June, as we remember and reflect on ten years since her murder, we will be amplifying that message once again.

We know many people are already choosing to connect. And we know many others want to. This year’s Great Get Together, which will bring communities together through events across the country, is one way to make that happen.

Influencing policy to connect

Events like these help people feel a stronger sense of belonging, reduce loneliness, and support community connection. But to truly address loneliness, all parts of society have a role to play – including government.

In recent months, we’ve seen some positive steps, including initiatives announced through the Youth Strategy and a new sports campaign aimed at reducing isolation among boys and men. However, alongside our partners in the Loneliness Action Policy Group, we know that more coordinated, cross-government and ambitious action is still needed.

Ten years ago, Jo established the Loneliness Commission, which led to the world’s first Minister for Loneliness and a national strategy. There is much to celebrate – and still so much more to do.

We’re grateful to everyone who supports this work—and to everyone choosing to connect. Together, we can build a movement that brings communities together and reminds us of what we have in common.

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Jo Cox Civility Commission: making progress on our recommendations

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By Hannah Phillips
Hannah is The Jo Cox Foundation’s Research and Policy Manager, leading the work of the Jo Cox Civility Commission. Hannah is a policy and research professional who has worked on local, national and international levels including at the London Borough of Lambeth Council, the UK House of Commons and the United Nations. In addition to her work at the Foundation, Hannah is a DPhil (PhD) Candidate at the University of Oxford where she examines how the phenomenon of abuse towards elected representatives has been politicised as a policy problem in the UK.

Run by The Jo Cox Foundation, the Jo Cox Civility Commission campaigns to address abuse and promote civility in our politics. In January, we launched our call to action, with 28 recommendations that, if implemented, will make a difference in our democracy.

Since we launched the Civility Commission Call to Action in January 2024 we have worked hard to make progress on this vital issue:

  • We’ve advocated for the recommendations, making strong and sustained progress on their implementation.
  • We were a vital voice on the issue of civility during the May and July elections, including joining forces with the Electoral Commission to call for a civil general election campaign.
  • We’ve raised awareness of the issue by speaking at events and in the media.
  • We’ve worked in partnership with key stakeholders, liaising closely with the Home Office’s Defending Democracy Taskforce, the Parliamentary security team, and the Local Government Association.

Our recommendations are only a starting point and a part of the solution to the problem of abuse towards elected representatives. We want to be part of a broader culture change in politics where abuse across the spectrum is no longer normalised as part of political participation.

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.”

You can read more about all that we’ve achieved since launching the Civility Commission Call to Action in our update report below.

Civility Commission update – September 2024Download

Opportunity to join us in shaping a vision for Batley, Dewsbury, and Heckmondwike

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Do you work, live, volunteer or have a connection to Batley, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, or surrounding areas? Over the next 18 months, we have an exciting opportunity for community members to help shape the future of this area by joining a new community group. This opportunity is part of the new Bridging and Belonging project that we are running in the area, thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Photo of a mindmap at a community workshop with the word 'Batley' in the middle

The community group will play a crucial role in organising and running community events in Batley, Dewsbury, and Heckmondwike. These events aim to bring people together to listen and share stories focused on themes of community, place, and belonging.

Community group members will receive skills training and peer-support to enhance their ability to engage and work effectively within the community. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals with a passion for community engagement and those looking to make a positive impact.

Hear from Martyn, who participated in a community project that we ran in Batley in 2022, reflecting on the experience:

“Personally I still feel a little shocked at how I felt in those planning meetings, so engaged and driven. So much of that healing and recovery, the reconnection with skills and experience I thought I no longer had being down to the encouragement, engagement and positive endorsement I got from those six or seven weeks being on that planning group.”

Who can join the community group?

We are bringing together 15 people from the area with a mix of backgrounds and experiences to form our community group. We are looking for people who:

  • Live, work, volunteer or have a connection to Batley, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike. This is where the community-based events will take place.
  • Have some experience in community engagement and attending or organising community events. 
  • Are happy to contribute your views and experiences as a community member. You won’t be expected to represent the views of any wider groups or organisations. 
  • Have an interest in your community, listening to others, hearing different views and meeting new people. 
  • Can commit to attending one meeting per month. These will be a mixture of in-person and online meetings (more info on these meetings in the information document)
  • Are committed to showing up with openness, honesty, a lack of judgement and a sense of fun and positivity.

Interested in applying?

If you are passionate about your community and want to contribute to shaping its future, this is your chance to make a difference. To help you get started, we’ve put together an information document that includes all the details about the project and what being involved will look like.

Community group information – Updated Jan 2025Download

If you are interested in taking part, please apply via our online application form below.

Apply to join the group

If you have any questions about the project, the role of the community group, or need support to apply, please contact [email protected]. We’re here to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate.

We all have a story to share. Join us on this exciting journey to build a stronger, more connected community!

Jacqui Smith steps down as Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation

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Jacqui Smith speaking at the Jo Cox Civility Commission launch

Following the General Election, Rt Hon Jacqui Smith has been appointed as Minister for Skills, Further and Higher Education, and therefore has stepped down as Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation. We congratulate Jacqui on this new role and wish her all the best in it and in her appointment to the House of Lords. 

Jacqui has served as Chair since 2019, and all at the Foundation send our thanks for her energy, time and knowledge over the past five years. Under her leadership, the Foundation has achieved considerable change on issues that Jo Cox was passionate about, including launching the Jo Cox Civility Commission call to action, delivering the successful Moment to Movement project, and championing the voices of the social connection sector through the Connection Coalition. 

Our Board of Trustees will commence recruitment for a new Chair shortly. 

Find out more about our team and the work we do.

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The Jo Cox Foundation makes meaningful change on issues that the late Jo Cox MP was passionate about. Our vision is of society underpinned by an enduring belief that “we…

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Blog: Reflections on the 2024 General Election campaign

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Photo of polling station sign

Since Rishi Sunak’s announcement of the July election, it’s been our aim at The Jo Cox Foundation to raise awareness of the issue of abuse during campaigning times and advocate for a civil election. It has been a busy and eventful six weeks, and we have been asking ourselves the question: Is politics in a better or worse place than when the election was called?

To look first to the positives, there are three particular things that we have noted:

  • The huge push to encourage more people to register to vote has been a real success. Youth democracy charity My Life My Say have reported that since the General Election was called on 22 May, 2,898,265 people have applied to register to vote. Of those who registered, 744,631 are under 25. Why is this so important? Check out our earlier blog on this topic.
  • Multiple candidates have spoken about the importance of civility in politics, and we’ve seen politicians from different parties being vocal in condemning abuse and attacks against others. No matter your political beliefs, we should all condemn the intimidation of politicians, and we thank those candidates who have taken the Civility Pledge in a commitment to a respectful campaign.
  • Though there have been incidents of abuse, which we explore in more detail below, we’ve heard a lot of anecdotal evidence from people who have been out canvassing for different parties that the tone on the doorsteps has been broadly civil. Elections are a unique time with lots of opportunities to engage with politicians, and the best way to do this is through conversation, not abuse, so this is positive to hear.

However, there have been some worrying developments over the course of the campaign, including:

  • Candidates and activists have experienced abuse on the campaign trail, including the objects being thrown at Nigel Farage, an attack on Stella Creasy’s office and a physical assault on a volunteer. Racist insults about Rishi Sunak by a Reform Party canvasser also highlight the heightened abuse levelled at candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as the impact of abuse on politicians’ families.
  • A number of candidates have cancelled hustings appearances because of fears for their own safety. Election times are a fantastic opportunity for the public to engage with their candidates, probe them on their policy positions, and have an informed opinion about who to vote for. When candidates can’t participate, everyone loses.
  • While we celebrate voter registration, there has been a real sense of voter apathy around this campaign which underlines the relevance of several key recommendations from the Jo Cox Civility Commission. Firstly, politicians need to model good behaviour in order for the public to trust them. Repeated reports of candidates having to be removed from the ballot further undermines trust, and show there’s more work to do on our recommendation the candidate screening needs to be improved. We also believe political literacy needs to improve so everyone can understand the responsibilities of different elected representatives and how they can use their voice to bring about change.

So to answer our original question about the impact of the election on the state of political life in the UK, it’s clear that abuse and intimidation is still a major issue for candidates to contend with and that more should be done to build trust and engagement between politicians and the electorate. We will be urging the incoming government to implement the relevant Jo Cox Civility Commission recommendations to ensure that we can change our politics for the better. 

So, with election day upon us, the most important thing we can do is urge you to make your voice heard and vote. 

On 4 July, polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm, and remember that you need to take photo ID with you. 

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A Safe and Respectful Democracy

We want anyone, regardless of their background, to feel able to participate in our political discourse and be treated with respect. In particular, we seek to end the abuse and…

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Blog: What do we mean by respectful politics and why does it matter?

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Photo of UK Parliament building

When we talk about the Jo Cox Civility Commission or our work more broadly on respectful politics, we sometimes find ourselves having to clarify what this looks like in practice and why this work is so important. Some people may think that when using the word ‘civility’ or talking about respectful politics, we think that ending political abuse is as simple as being a bit nicer to politicians and refraining from publicly disagreeing with them. However, that’s not the case. We strongly believe that robust debate and scrutiny of decision-making is essential in a healthy democracy. The main aim of our work on the Jo Cox Civility Commission was to find practical ways to tackle the abuse and intimidation of elected representatives, while also preserving the importance of strong political debate. In the run-up to a General Election, this is even more vital.  

What we do want to make clear is the severity of abuse and intimidation. At its most serious, abuse on social media takes the form of death threats, threats of sexual violence and threats against family members. But it’s not just on social media. Abuse and intimidation often also manifests in-person, with issues such as destruction of property, stalking, and physical assault. 

When explaining exactly what we mean by abuse and intimidation, we use the following definitions from the Local Government Association:

Abuse:

a single act or repeated physical, verbal, or psychological acts that violate an individual’s human and civil rights.

Intimidation:

words and/or behaviour intended or likely to block, influence, or deter participation in public debate or causing alarm or distress which could lead to an individual wanting to withdraw from public life.

These definitions demonstrate the seriousness of this problem and why it’s so important that we take steps to tackle it so that candidates and elected representatives are able to participate in the democratic process safely. Building respectful politics means ending the abuse and intimation that discourages so many from entering political life, and particularly impacts diverse representation.

We also recognise that candidates and elected representatives themselves have an important role to play in setting the tone of debate. The public cares about how candidates behave. In 2022, we found that over half of people said they would be less likely to vote for a political candidate who spoke insultingly about others in the running. That’s why we’ve been encouraging candidates to take the Civility Pledge ahead of this election. An important part of the Pledge is that it asks candidates to commit to behaving with respect towards others, including those that they don’t agree with. With more public debates and hustings events taking place in the days that lead up to the election, we urge candidates to focus on the issues that candidates care about, and not criticising or abusing their opponents.

The recommendations of the Jo Cox Civility Commission also emphasise the importance of civil debate. One area we’ve specifically emphasised is political literacy, and we remain convinced that better political education can lead to better politics in this country. If people understand more about how politics works, and how it can work for them, we can raise the tone of debate, and ultimately all benefit. Jo Cox herself didn’t shy away from political debate, but she also understood that politics is as much about finding allies to achieve common goals as it is about combative debate in the House of Commons. 

Abuse and intimidation of our elected representatives – including violence towards them – is one of the biggest threats to our democracy in the UK.

In the run-up to the 2024 General Election on 4 July, we are urging candidates to commit to running a respectful campaign by signing and sharing the Civility Pledge. Through the election and beyond, we are also campaigning for the implementation of our Jo Cox Civility Commission recommendations to ensure abuse has no place in politics.

Blog: How to engage with your parliamentary candidates in this election

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The General Election is just two weeks away and this election period is a great opportunity to raise issues we care about with the people who will soon form the new UK parliament. This is one of the best times to speak to your future MP, so we’re sharing some advice on how to get in touch with and be heard by your local candidates.

Who are my candidates and how do I contact them?

Photo of ballot papers

Some candidates might drop leaflets through your letterbox or even come and knock on your door, but the best and easiest way to find out who all your local candidates are is to visit the website Who Can I Vote For? and enter your postcode.

You will find a full list of candidates with links to their websites and ways you can contact them (such as via email or social media). You may wish to write your own letter or email to candidates, which can include asking them to commit to doing something about particular issues.

At the Jo Cox Foundation, we are asking candidates to sign our Civility Pledge and commit to setting a more respectful, civil and compassionate tone in politics. We are seeing the shocking impact of abuse towards elected representatives and candidates, many of whom have experienced abuse such as threats to themselves or family members. Unfortunately, research from the Electoral Commission in 2023 indicates that abusing elected representatives is increasingly deemed to be acceptable, with 75% of those who are 75+ saying that verbally threatening an MP in public is totally unacceptable, compared to just 32% of 18–24-year-olds.

Through the Jo Cox Civility Commission, we are advocating for a range of recommendations to address abuse and intimidation in politics. Some of these recommendations relate to the vital role politicians themselves have to play in setting the tone of political discourse and modelling appropriate behaviour, which is why we are asking parliamentary candidates to sign up to the Civility Pledge and demonstrate the importance of running a respectful campaign in the run-up to this election. 

What if I want to speak directly to candidates?

You may want to consider attending a local hustings event. Hustings are events where all the candidates come and debate certain issues and answer questions from the audience. They are usually organised by local community or faith groups and you can find out about them by checking local Facebook or other social media pages, by searching your area or constituency name and looking at posters in local public spaces such as libraries, supermarkets, and community spaces. Going along to a hustings gives you the opportunity to ask questions yourself or just hear directly from candidates and meet them in-person.

Whichever way you choose to engage with your parliamentary candidates, by email, social media or at a hustings or other public event – this is a crucial opportunity to put the issues that matter to you and your community on the agenda of whoever will be your next MP.

Ask your candidates to sign the Civility Pledge

If you’re getting in touch with local candidates and, like us, want to see a respectful election campaign, why not ask them to share their commitment to this by signing the Civility Pledge? By signing, candidates agree to:

  1. Use a civil and constructive tone in debate
  2. Act with integrity, honesty and compassion
  3. Behave respectfully towards others, including those I disagree with

You can find template social media posts and emails ready to send to candidates on the Civility Pledge webpage.

Civility Pledge graphic

Abuse and intimidation of our elected representatives – including violence towards them – is one of the biggest threats to our democracy in the UK.

In the run-up to the 2024 General Election on 4 July, we are urging candidates to commit to running a respectful campaign by signing and sharing the Civility Pledge. Through the election and beyond, we are also campaigning for the implementation of our Jo Cox Civility Commission recommendations to ensure abuse has no place in politics.

From moment to movement: How to evaluate community events and have a long-term impact

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The Great Get Together (21-23 June 2024) is the UK’s annual celebration of everything that unites our communities, inspired by Jo Cox’s belief that we have more in common than that which divides us.

To support those organising Great Get Togethers, we recently delivered a series of webinars, including one on how organisations can use community events to make sustainable, long-term change, with speakers from Spirit of 2012 and York Cares joining us to share their top tips.

Watch the recording of the webinar
Photo of someone holding a pen and completing a Great Get Together survey

In this blog, Amy Heaton-Finch from Spirit of 2012 shares top tips for evaluating your event to create long-term change:

Many of us working on events will be familiar with them being described as “catalysts” for wider change. Whilst this is very much the expectation of big events like the upcoming Olympics, we know that community organisers often point to an event as the start of something special. 

We first started working with The Jo Cox Foundation back in 2019, and we also had grants with Springboard, a Belfast-based organisation that regularly uses events to bring communities together, and WOW Foundation for its Women of the World Festivals. All three organisations were using the initial “moment” of an event to lead to a wider “movement” of community change. We wanted to unpick what was happening between the initial “moment” that made it more or less likely to lead to something beyond the event.  

This work is captured in inFocus Moment To Movement report, produced alongside an e-learning module for time-pressed event organisers to think through how to address some of the success factors and barriers in more detail. 

One of the recurrent questions was: how much was movement building in the control of the organisers themselves? Many of the barriers we identified boiled down to ownership and capacity: Who is responsible for acting on an event’s potential? 

The answer to that will vary from event to event, and needs to be completely pragmatic. Some of the best “catalytic potential” from events that we have seen has not required follow-up actions from the event organisers. They’ve created the conditions for new partnerships and surprising connections to form, and made it clear that others can pick up the baton if they’ve been inspired. In other cases, events are part of a longer-term vision with follow-up actions deliberately planned in advance. 

And what about evaluation? Above all, evaluation should be useful.   Either for instrumental purposes (ie. to help get more resources or secure the future of the event) or to help you learn.

We worked on a template and toolkit with University of the West of Scotland to guide you through proportionate evaluation. 

Here are five top tips on evaluating your event:

  1. Think about what you want from evaluation as early as you can in the process, not at the end.
  2. Finding out accurately who attended with some basic demographics like the first part of a postcode takes effort itself – decide how you will monitor attendance, what you want to know and why.  
  3. Zero in on one or two survey questions that you really want to know the answer to, and think about simple ways to capture responses, such as postcards, or stickers to put up on boards on the way in and out. 
  4. Use it as a chance to build your momentum – but only if you have the time to act on it. So if you ask people to provide details if they’re interested in getting more involved, assign someone to contact those people within a fortnight of the event while they’re at their most engaged.
  5. Build in time for a proper debrief where you consider any data and evidence that you’ve collected (otherwise all those post-it notes and survey slips will languish forgotten in a tote bag somewhere!)   

Found these tips useful but wish you could’ve attended the webinar? Watch back the recorded webinar now and sign up for the Great Get Together newsletter so that we can keep you up-to-date with future opportunities.

Find a Great Get Together near you Great Get Together map screenshot.

Find a Great Get Together near you

Join in the celebration of everything that unites our communities by finding an event near you.

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Planning your own Great Get Together? Register it today to add it to the map.

National Great Get Together to take place on Jo Cox’s 50th birthday

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Photo of person at a Great Get Together event with a sign that says "We have far more in common than that which divides us" Jo Cox

Over the weekend in which Jo Cox would have been turning 50, and with the General Election approaching, communities across the UK will be celebrating unity and rejecting division this weekend through the Great Get Together (21-23 June). The events bring to life the message from Jo Cox’s first speech in Parliament: ”we have more in common than that which divides us”.

Run by The Jo Cox Foundation, each year the Great Get Together takes place on the weekend closest to Jo Cox’s birthday (22 June) and it has become the UK’s annual celebration of everything that unites our communities.

The over 400 Great Together events planned for this weekend include the huge Bankside Great Get Together in London, a Poetry and Pints night at a pub in Llantwit Major (South Wales), and a printmaking workshop in Huddersfield around the themes of ‘home’ and ‘special places’, as well as barn dances, street parties, pizza parties and barbecues in neighbourhoods across the country.

Su Moore, CEO of The Jo Cox Foundation, said: 

“All around the UK this weekend, Great Get Together events will be community spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together, get to know each other, and – in many cases – begin friendships. Just as there are countless things that unite us, there are countless ways to run a Great Get Together, with events taking place this weekend in parks, pubs, streets, and libraries. Over the last eight years, millions of people have taken part in the Great Get Together and anyone can join in by hosting their own or heading to our map to find their nearest.”

Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation and Former Home Secretary, said: 

“The need to celebrate unity and to reject division is as relevant now as it was at the first Great Get Together in 2017. This weekend, on what would have been Jo’s 50th birthday, we’re looking forward to seeing how her ‘more in common’ message is continuing to inspire people to bring their communities together. The Great Get Together is an opportunity for us all to remember Jo’s life and values as we celebrate all that we have in common.”

To get involved, find your nearest event on the Great Get Together map or host your own. Join the conversation and share your event on social media with the hashtags #MoreInCommon and #GreatGetTogether.

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Great Get Together

The GREAT Get Together 19 – 21 JUNE 2026 The Great Get Together is the UK’s annual celebration of everything that connects  our communities, inspired by Jo Cox’s belief that…

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The Eighth Anniversary of Jo’s Murder

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Photo of Jo Cox MP

Statement from The Jo Cox Foundation

Eight years ago today, on 16 June 2016, Jo Cox was tragically murdered while on her way to a constituency surgery in Batley and Spen. In the days that followed, the global wave of grief and solidarity demonstrated that her values were widely shared. 

In 2016, those closest to Jo lost their mum, daughter, sister, wife, friend, and colleague. We all lost a talented politician and passionate campaigner, who was driven by her belief that a fairer, kinder and more tolerant world was possible.

Jo believed that even the greatest challenges could be overcome and at The Jo Cox Foundation, we share this belief. She was a strong believer in working cross-party on issues and in achieving a gender-equal Parliament. Her tragic murder was a turning point in recognising the need for better politics in the UK, and in January this year we published the Jo Cox Civility Commission’s 28 recommendations to tackle the abuse and intimidation of elected representatives.

We also share Jo’s belief that, together, we can strengthen communities to become less lonely, better connected, and more united. It is fitting that in the month in which Jo would have been turning 50, and with the General Election approaching, communities will be celebrating what unites us and rejecting division at Great Get Togethers across the UK next weekend (21-23 June), inspired by the message from her maiden speech: “We have more in common than that which divides us.”

The eighth anniversary of Jo Cox’s murder today, and her birthday on 22 June, are occasions for us to remember Jo’s life and the change she made, which we endeavour to continue every day through our work at The Jo Cox Foundation.

Help us to make change, inspired by Jo Cox

Join the Great Get Together

Taking place next weekend from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 June 2024, community events across the UK will be celebrating Jo’s message that we have more in common than that which divides us. The first Great Get Together in 2017 took place on the anniversary of Jo’s murder, but to focus on celebrating Jo’s life instead of the way she died, her family and friends decided to move it to the weekend closest to her birthday instead and this year marks what would have been Jo’s 50th birthday. Host your own or find an event in your area on our map.

Get involved
Photo of someone holding a placard that says Jo's more in common quote.

Join our community of supporters

We make change on issues that Jo Cox was passionate about – from stronger communities, to respectful politics, and a fairer world. If you care about these issues too, signing up for our monthly supporter newsletter is the best way to hear news from us and how to get involved.

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Blog: Strengthen our democracy by registering to vote 

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At The Jo Cox Foundation, we believe in the power of politics and the importance of everyone’s voices being heard. When more people participate in the political process, our democracy becomes stronger. 

Jo was a firm advocate of a 50:50 Parliament, one in which there are equal numbers of women and men serving as MPs, and one of her last actions as a parliamentarian was signing a motion recognising those who campaigned for women’s right to vote. Following the most recent General Election in 2019, the proportion of women in Parliament increased to 34%, but this is still falling significantly short of the 50% target. 

Our work on the Jo Cox Civility Commission and recent Electoral Commission research indicates that abuse towards elected representatives is a major risk to equal political participation and representation. Through our work on this issue, we seek to end the abuse and intimation that discourages so many from entering political life and particularly impacts diverse representation

Some of the key recommendations of the Civility Commission involve political education. When we all understand politics better, and are more involved in political life, we can together build a more civil discourse. Whatever the result of the upcoming General Election on 4 July, we intend to work with the next government to ensure a commitment to political literacy in schools and beyond.  

While securing the implementation of our recommendations such as mandatory political and media education may take some time, one action you can take today is register to vote and play your part in democracy in the UK. Remember, even if you’ve registered to vote before, you will need to register again if you have moved house or changed your name for any reason.

Register to vote

Organisations such as Shout Out UK, I Have A Voice and Democracy Classroom have excellent resources about how our political systems operate and the importance of voting. For more information about voting requirements such as ID and who is eligible to vote, visit the Electoral Commission website.

Key voting registration deadlines

  1. Register to vote by 11:59pm on 18 June 2024
  2. Apply for a postal vote online by 5pm on 19 June 2024
  3. Apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on 26 June 2024
  4. General Election Day: 4 July 2024

Abuse and intimidation of our elected representatives – including violence towards them – is one of the biggest threats to our democracy in the UK.

In the run-up to the 2024 General Election on 4 July, we are urging candidates to commit to running a respectful campaign by signing and sharing the Civility Pledge. Through the election and beyond, we are also campaigning for the implementation of our Jo Cox Civility Commission recommendations to ensure abuse has no place in politics.