Minister For Loneliness Appointed In Memory Of Murdered MP Jo Cox
Following the murder of Ms Cox by a far-right extremist in her constituency in June 2016, a minister for loneliness has been appointed in her honor as she was passionate about issues relating to loneliness in her lifetime. She was reportedly shot and stabbed multiple times in Birstall, West Yorkshire.
Ms Cox was a British Labour Party Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen.
The role was one of the suggestions of the Jo Cox commission, which called for a national strategy in response to an “urgent crisis”.
Her sister, Kim Leadbeater, said loneliness was one of the issues she had been passionate about during her life.
Theresa May is to host an event in Downing St later today, to celebrate Ms Cox’s life.
Mrs May said: “For far too many people, loneliness is the sad reality of modern life.
“I want to confront this challenge for our society and for all of us to take action to address the loneliness endured by the elderly, by carers, by those who have lost loved ones, people who have no one to talk to or share their thoughts and experiences with.
“Jo Cox recognised the scale of loneliness across the country and dedicated herself to doing all she could to help those affected.
“So I am pleased that Government can build on her legacy with a ministerial lead for loneliness who will work with the Commission, businesses and charities to shine a light on the issue and pull together all strands of Government to create the first ever strategy.
“We should all do everything we can to see that, in Jo’s memory, we bring an end to the acceptance of loneliness for good.”
The cross-party commission was chaired by Rachel Reeves and Seema Kennedy and worked with 13 charities to help find solutions to the problem.
The two MPs welcomed the appointment and added: “Jo Cox said that ‘young or old, loneliness doesn’t discriminate’.
“Throughout 2017 we have heard from new parents, children, disabled people, carers, refugees and older people about their experience of loneliness.”
The Office for National Statistics is to help devise a method for measuring loneliness and there will be a fund set up for Government and charities to tackle it.
