Silent Tribute
The House of Commons was packed to the rafters yesterday to celebrate the life and commemorate the death of Jo Cox, the Labour MP murdered in cold-blood while working in her local constituency of Batley and Spen.
Many fine words were spoken in Jo's name, significantly and genuinely from all sides of the House, as MPs united both to honour one of their number and voice outrage at the circumstances surrounding their colleague's untimely death.
In silent tribute, Jo's normal seat was left empty, her place taken by two roses: a white one for Yorkshire (her home county) and a red rose symbolising the Labour Party.
The Telegraph's Michael Deacon captured the mood with this sombre but beautifully written parliamentary sketch.
Labour MP Wes Streeting lays flowers in tribute to Jo Cox near Parliament CREDIT: DAN KITWOOD/GETTY IMAGES
Tears, flowers, love... and anger: MPs pay tribute to Jo Cox in front of her family
MPs pay tribute to Jo Cox in House of Commons
By Michael Deacon - The Telegraph
I had never seen the Commons so full. Every seat was taken. Every seat, that is, but one.
Two rows behind the Labour front bench was a single empty space. Empty, except for two roses, propped upright. A white rose, to symbolise Yorkshire. And a red rose, to symbolise Labour.
Together, they symbolised Jo Cox.
Parliament had been recalled to mourn the MP for Batley & Spen, murdered in the streets of her West Yorkshire seat on Thursday. As we filed into the press gallery, we were met by a sound normally unknown to the chamber. Silence. Below us, MPs sat, ashen and drained, every one of them wearing a white rose above their heart. Some bowed their heads; others looked up. Up, to the public gallery, to see Jo Cox’s grieving family. Brendan, her husband; their children, aged five and three; and her parents. They gazed down, at the scores of MPs gazing up.
Imagine being them. Imagine being them, at that moment.
I had never seen the Commons so full. Every seat was taken. Every seat, that is, but one.
Two rows behind the Labour front bench was a single empty space. Empty, except for two roses, propped upright. A white rose, to symbolise Yorkshire. And a red rose, to symbolise Labour.
Together, they symbolised Jo Cox.
Parliament had been recalled to mourn the MP for Batley & Spen, murdered in the streets of her West Yorkshire seat on Thursday. As we filed into the press gallery, we were met by a sound normally unknown to the chamber. Silence. Below us, MPs sat, ashen and drained, every one of them wearing a white rose above their heart. Some bowed their heads; others looked up. Up, to the public gallery, to see Jo Cox’s grieving family. Brendan, her husband; their children, aged five and three; and her parents. They gazed down, at the scores of MPs gazing up.
Imagine being them. Imagine being them, at that moment.
