A service and vigil will be held tomorrow (Wednesday 22^nd June) to celebrate the life of Jo Cox on her 42^nd birthday at 6.30pm in St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle.

The theme of the celebrations, ‘More In Common’, was the theme of Jo’s maiden speech on entering the House of Commons in May 2015, when she said: “‘We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us".

Speakers will be confirmed nearer the time; however, it is expected that the Dean of the Cathedral, Chris Dalliston, the Bishop of Newcastle, Christine Hardman, and local MPs and MEPs will speak during the service.

Sharon said:

“Jo was an inspirational woman who dedicated her life to helping those in the most need across the world and spent her short time in Parliament championing causes close to her heart and working to ensure that hatred did not divide us as a country.

“Jo was not only a credit to us in the Labour Party, but to all of us involved in British politics and the wider country and she will be sorely missed by us all; but especially by the young family she has been so brutally taken away from.

“That is why I am heartened to see global celebrations and remembrance of her life will take place on her 42^nd birthday and I would like to thank St Nicholas’ Cathedral for providing the space for a service to be held in the North-East so that as a region we can come together to remember Jo, her life and all recommit to standing up against hatred in our society.”