A NUMBER of prominent women will speak at an event organised by a teenage campaigner in memory of former Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox.

Emily Warrillow, 15, who was close to Mrs Cox, will host the inspirational women’s event next month.

Guests will include Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall, whose son James died aged 18 in the 1989 stadium disaster, newly-elected Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin, and Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff.

Also lined up to attend are Kirklees Councillor Fazila Fadia (Lab, Batley East), school head teacher Rizwana Ahmed, and TV news correspondent Danni Hewson.

“They will be talking about things they have done,” said Emily’s mum Christine Warrillow. “They are all women that have accomplished something. That is the idea behind it.”

Mrs Warrillow added: “One of the first things Emily did with Jo was an inspirational women’s event. Jo asked Emily to speak at it.”

Ms Brabin, said she would “definitely” be at the event and hoped to work with Emily in future as she had been hugely impressed with her campaigning work.

She said: “She is an extraordinary young woman. She’s a passionate campaigner, she’s only 15 and she has won three awards, one of which was the Diana Award.”

Emily and Mrs Cox met at a mothers’ union meeting in Gomersal in October 2014.

Among other things, since that first meeting, Emily worked closely with Mrs Cox on securing demolition of a derelict former office building in Gomersal.

Mrs Cox was also present, alongside Andy Burnham MP, at a politics event hosted by Emily at her Whitcliffe Mount School in Cleckheaton earlier this year.

The teenager saw the MP, who died after being shot and stabbed in the street earlier this year, as a close friend and was in regular contact with her.

She was distraught at Mrs Cox’s death. Mrs Warrillow said: “She has picked herself up well. She is carrying on and supporting Tracy Brabin.

“It is good to see that she is carrying on – that is what Jo would have wanted for her.

“I am proud of her, as always.”

On the upcoming event, Mrs Warrillow said of Emily: “She wracked her brains trying to think of something that was suitable. She is looking forward to it now.”

The event is open to men and women to attend.

It will be at Batley Older People’s Centre on November 11, from 7pm until 9pm. There are about 100 tickets available, costing £2 each. The price includes entry into a raffle.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Jo Cox memorial fund.

Tickets are available from Emily on emileewarri@hotmail.co.uk.

If anyone wants to donate a raffle prize for the event, contact Emily on the same email address.