THE SISTER of MP Jo Cox gave an emotional speech at a gathering to mark what would have been her 42nd birthday today.

Kim Leadbeater told the crowd outside Batley town hall that Mrs Cox’s life was centred around helping people ‘from Batley to Burma, and from the Spen Valley to Syria’.

She said: “On behalf of all Jo’s family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to each and every person who has sent their love and sympathy to us in the last few days.

“We have been truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness and support and it has provided great comfort and strength in order for us to keep going.

“I don’t have any answers as to why such an horrendous and tragic event has occurred in our lives, but I do know that Jo would not have wanted any of us to allow it to make her life anything other than the force for good it always was.

“My sister would want her murder to mobilise people to get on with things, to try to make a positive difference in whatever way we can, to come together and unite against hate and division and fight instead for inclusion, love and unity.”

Gatherers in the town’s market square, many in tears and still stunned over last Thursday’s shooting in nearby Birstall, watched a big screen showing widower Brendan Cox speak in London’s Trafalgar Square.

He said: “Thank you for the love that you have poured on our family since our world collapsed on Thursday.

“As amazing and deeply touching as all of this is, I wish I wasn’t here today. Not because I’m ungrateful to the organisers and you all for coming, but because of course I’d rather be with Jo.”

People also listened to tributes live on the stage as well as music from the choir of Norristhorpe Primary, in Liversedge Cities around the world marked their own birthday tributes including Sydney, Brussels and Geneva. In Batley, music was provided by the choir of Norristhorpe Primary, in Liversedge.