Keir Starmer praises Jo Cox and her sister Kim Leadbeater at his first Prime Minister’s Questions

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the late Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox and her sister, Kim Leadbeater, during his first Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons.

Kim, who was elected as MP for the new constituency of Spen Valley on July 4, praised the Prime Minister for “resetting the dial on politics as public service and as a force for good” before asking him to join her in “wishing the very best of luck to the cyclists who have set off from West Yorkshire this morning on the ninth Jo Cox Way bike ride, travelling 280 miles down the country to London celebrating all that we have in common”.

In reply, Keir Starmer said he wished them good luck and said it was a brilliant cause.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “The whole house misses our dear friend Jo Cox and I know that she would have been incredibly proud to see this Government in place and she would have played a big part in it.”

Spen Valley MP Kim Leadbeater with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and her parents Jean and Gordon.Spen Valley MP Kim Leadbeater with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and her parents Jean and Gordon.
Spen Valley MP Kim Leadbeater with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and her parents Jean and Gordon.

He welcomed Kim back to the Commons, saying: “I know that she will continue in Jo’s spirit with the same dedication and determination.”

The Prime Minister welcomed Jo and Kim’s parents, Gordon and Jean, who were watching from the gallery and later joined them on the House of Commons Terrace.

Kim’s mum Jean said, “Gordon and I felt incredibly privileged to have been present at the first PMQs of this new government.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We were very proud to hear such a lovely tribute to Jo, who we miss every day, but also to hear Kim speak so powerfully about the values we all share as a family.”

The Reporter Series was at the start of the 2024 Jo Cox Way at Princess Mary Athletics Stadium in Cleckheaton this morning and there will be a special photo gallery and in-depth feature piece on our website at 6pm.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1858
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice