Jo Cox's sister warns that politicians are still forced to fear for their lives eight years after Labour MP's murder by far-Right thug

Jo Cox's sister said that politicians are still forced to fear for their lives eight years after the Labour MP was murdered by a far-right thug.

Ms Cox was stabbed and shot by neo-Nazi thug in her constituency and hometown of Batley, West Yorkshire, on June 16, 2016, just days before the EU referendum.

She was waiting outside the library where she had planned to meet her constituents for a surgery when Thomas Mair shot her three times with a hunting rifle and stabbed her fifteen times.

Ms Cox was the first sitting MP to be murdered since the end of the Troubles in Ireland. David Cameron, who was Prime Minister at the time, said Ms Cox was 'a star for her constituents and a star in parliament'.

Jo's sister Kim Leadbeater, who was elected as the MP for Batley and Spen in 2021, has said that toxicity in politics hasn't changed and is still putting MPs at risk.

Jo Cox's sister Kim Leadbeater said that politicians are still forced to fear for their lives eight years after the Labour MP was murdered by a far-right thug

Ms Leadbeater said: 'I find it hard to believe that it is eight years since my sister's murder.

'After Jo was killed, politicians of all parties promised to do politics differently, to 'dial-down' the rhetoric and toxicity and focus on the issues that matter.

'Sadly it doesn't always feel like that has happened. Political campaigning and debate should of course be robust.

'So it saddens me that a number of MPs said they wouldn't be standing again in this election due to fears for their personal safety, and that of their families and staff.'

MPs from all parties have decided to stand down because of violent threats, a report by the Jo Cox Foundation revealed.

Conservative MP Mark Lancaster said he would stand down after receiving death threats.

The former defence minister said: 'The politics of today, with all its anger, abuse and in my own case, two threats on my life, is not the politics we want or need for our great country.

Jo Cox was stabbed and shot by neo-Nazi thug in her constituency and hometown of Batley, West Yorkshire, on June 16, 2016, just days before the EU referendum

'We have always been at our best and delivered the most, when we are able to express political disagreements through healthy debate then unite as a community and as a country.

'I hope one day that we can return to such a place.'

Labour MP Apsana Begum opened up in the Commons about the threats of murder and sexual violence she has received and abuse she has endured over her religion and gender.

Speaking bravely to her fellow MPs, she said: 'I am currently facing death threats and a torrent of Islamophobic and misogynistic abuse.

'I've receive comments including, and I quote, "vile and filthy religion,importing vile and filthy creatures like Apsana Begum".

'I am now facing a heightened risk to my safety with serious death threats, threats to kidnap me, threats of sexual violence and threats about ripping off my hijab in public. It goes on and on.'

Conservative MP Mark Lancaster said he would stand down after receiving death threats

The SNP's Mhairi Black is no longer seeking re-election because of the abuse that she and her family receive.

The 29-year-old said: 'Since 2015, the lives of my loved ones have been turned upside down and inside out.

'Between media attention, social media abuse, threats, constant travel, and the murders of two MPs, my loved ones have been in a constant state of anxiety for my health and safety.'

Ms Leadbeater worries that good politicians are being 'put off' by all of the abuse.

'Jo used to tell me that we need good people in politics, and many good people are standing on July 4th.

'But too many others are put off by the abuse and intimidation politicians and others in public life are now routinely subjected to.', she told The Sun.

Labour MP Apsana Begum opened up in the Commons about the threats of murder and sexual violence she has received and abuse she has endured over her religion and gender

'Whatever the result, I hope this election can finally be the moment to put our politics on a new path.

'Agreeing where we can and, where we can't, discussing our differences with passion, but always with honesty and respect.

'That would be a fitting tribute to Jo and everything she stood for.'

Ahead of the eighth anniversary of Ms Cox death, her husband has said she would have been 'gutted' to see the election used 'to denigrate minorities and spread division'.

Brendan Cox said their children will mark the anniversary, and what would have been her coming 50th birthday, by putting on a concert of her favourite songs.

The SNP's Mhairi Black is no longer seeking re-election because of the abuse that she and her family receive

In a post on X, he said they will be 'remembering all she meant to us and to so many others'.

'Jo would be gutted to be missing this election, and her chance to play a role in making our country better,' he said.

'She believed passionately in the potential of politics. She'd also be gutted to see some people willing to use it to denigrate minorities and spread division.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute to Ms Cox ahead of her anniversary.

'It's an awful anniversary,' he said.

'Jo was a friend of mine, we came into Parliament on the same day.

'And I think the best that we can take from this is Jo's own words in her maiden speech when she said: "We have far more in common than we do that divides us."

'And that's the spirit I think of this anniversary and what Jo would have wanted us to be talking about today.'