Jeremy Corbyn leads tributes to Jo Cox as Brussels square named in honour of late MP

Emilio Casalicchio

Jeremy Corbyn has thanked Brussels for a “wonderful gesture” as a square in the city was renamed in honour of murdered MP Jo Cox.



The Labour leader led tributes to the former campaigner who was shot and stabbed in her Batley and Spen constituency by right-wing extremist Thomas Mair at the height of the EU referendum campaign in 2016.

He said: “In Jo’s memory, we must recommit to the values of peace and justice that Jo fought for every day.

“We must stand up for the values of internationalism, the values of reaching out to support those in need all across the world.

“We will never forget Jo. In her memory let us build a better world.”

And he added: “I would like to thank you, the people of Brussels, for this wonderful gesture, which will allow Jo’s legacy to live on in a city that she loved.”

The square that was renamed in her honour is close to the Ancienne Belgique concert venue she regularly attended when she lived in Belgium while working for ex-MEP Glenys Kinnock.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, who was also at the Brussels event, said Ms Cox was “lively, fun but absolutely determined never to give up”.

Speaking to Sky News, he added: “She could bring people together - people who initially disagree - people from different political parties she could bring them together around and idea and that is an incredible but really important skill.”

Other MPs also expressed their support on Twitter.

Thinking about Jo and all who mourn her today. https://t.co/4gcwnNYUfa — Cat Smith (@CatSmithMP) September 27, 2018

Thinking of Jo & her family today. This is a lovely tribute to a great woman https://t.co/98evaM3QwB — Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) September 27, 2018

An amazing honour for an inspirational woman https://t.co/ZhJLevKN1T — Tonia Antoniazzi MP (@ToniaAntoniazzi) September 27, 2018

A street in Avallon, France, was named after Ms Cox in November and a remembrance plaque was placed in the Commons on the anniversary of her death.

In her maiden speech in 2015 she told the House: "While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us."