Bath Labour held a vigil outside Bath Abbey on Saturday 18th June in memory of Jo Cox, the Labour MP for Batley & Spen who died last Thursday after being shot outside her constituency surgery.
Photo courtesy of Richard Wendland
The vigil was attended by over 250 people including MP for Bath, Ben Howlett, the Mayor of Bath, Paul Crossley, and local councilors from across all parties.
Many people brought flowers and lit a candle at the event and a collection raised over £500 in her memory, which will be shared between Bath Welcomes Refugees and Jo Cox’s Fund – set up by Jo Cox’s friends and family following her death.
Jane Middleton, Chair of Bath Labour Party, spoke of the importance of continuing to fight for the humanitarian causes Jo supported.
She said: “Yvette Cooper said that Jo Cox was one of those rare people who walk towards problems, not away from them. By doing the same, and fighting every day for the better world that Jo believed was possible, we can try to do justice to her memory.”
Mayor of Bath Paul Crossley signing the book of condolences | Photo courtesy of Richard Wendland
A two minutes’ silence was observed at the vigil and many people queued, some for over an hour, to sign the book of condolences.
The book of condolences will be available for anyone to sign at Bath Labour’s office, 136a Walcot St, every day between 10:30 and 12:30 until the weekend.
The book will then be sent to Jo Cox’s constituency office to pass on to her family.
