Abuse and intimidation of our elected representatives – including violence towards them – is one of the biggest threats to our democracy in the UK.
The Jo Cox Civility Commission intends to influence significant change on this complex issue. With Baroness Gabrielle Bertin and Lord Vernon Coaker as co-chairs, the Commission is currently in its first phase, in which we are gathering proposed solutions to the issue from participants across a wide range of sectors.
We urgently need this Commission
- In the last seven years, two MPs – Jo Cox and Sir David Amess – were murdered as they met their constituents.
- MPs are regularly reporting death threats and threats of serious sexual violence to the police.
- A 2022 report showed 88% of local councillors had experienced abuse and intimidation.
We have already seen politicians in the UK stepping down due to abuse and intimidation and it is becoming a barrier to those considering running for election. It has implications for the representation we see in UK politics, as female politicians and those from minority ethnic backgrounds receive disproportionate levels of abuse. Without urgent action, we risk going backwards on this issue.
At The Jo Cox Foundation, we are committed to finding solutions to abuse and intimidation in politics. Through the Jo Cox Civility Commission we will produce recommendations and campaign for their adoption. We hope to announce the recommendations by the end of 2023.
Can you support our work?
The Jo Cox Foundation is a small charity and this Commission is a vital yet complex undertaking. Can you donate to help us make real change on this issue?
Anything you can donate will make a huge difference to this work.
You can also sign up for our monthly supporter newsletter to receive updates on the Commission and see your donation’s impact.
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Contact us
To contact us about this work, use our Get in touch form and select Jo Cox Civility Commission in the ‘nature of enquiry’ drop-down.
In 2016, many of us hoped that the tragedy of Jo’s murder would be a wake-up call and abuse and intimidation in public life would be taken seriously and addressed.
Almost seven years on, the problem appears to be worsening. MPs and local councillors alike frequently recount horrific threats and Sir David Amess’ tragic murder in 2021 highlights the ongoing risk of violence. At The Jo Cox Foundation we are determined to protect our democracy for future generations. Today we take a huge step forward in this work with the launch of the Jo Cox Civility Commission.
Jacqui Smith, Chair of The Jo Cox Foundation