Webchat with Brendan Cox on Tuesday 16 May at midday

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

We’re pleased to announce a webchat with Brendan Cox on Tuesday 16 May at midday.

Brendan is the husband of the late Jo Cox MP and an international campaigner and activist. Previously, Brendan was Chief Executive of Crisis Action from 2006 to 2009, then served as Special Adviser to Gordon Brown before joining Save the Children as Director of Policy and Advocacy.

Brendan has spent the last 18 months developing an initiative to build open and welcoming communities in the UK and around the world. He is currently working on a campaign called The Great Get Together for the Jo Cox Foundation, which will be the biggest neighbourhood celebrations since the Jubilee street parties, taking place on 16-18 June. The idea is for people to set up events in their own communities: this could be a street party or a shared barbecue, a picnic or a bake off. If you’d like to find out more, please visit this link. We’ll also be hosting our own Mumsnet get together that weekend - please look out for our thread closer to the time!

Please do join us on the day - Tuesday 16 May at midday - but if you can’t make it, post a question in advance on this thread.

Please remember our webchat guidelines: one question each, with a follow-up to the webchat guest's response if appropriate; please don't keep posting 'what about me/please answer my question'; and please be civil/polite.

Thanks
MNHQ

Ah what a brilliant idea! We live in a cul-de-sac with a great community feel already so will definitely see if we can organise something.

I just wanted to let Brendan know that I feel for him and his children. As a child of 6 I lost both my parents (murder/suicide) and there was no counselling or help there for me. I hope that things have improved massively in this area now. I really don't have a question but did just want to say I think his dignity has been incredible and you are a credit to Jo and your children.

Good to see someone really worthwhile being invited to one of these.

Firstly can I commend you on your focus on that which unites us. Your approach in these troubled times is so good to hear.

I contributed in a small way to the woolly hugs blankets for your family. I hope they were well received.

If there was one thing you could suggest we could do to counteract the increasing hatred and fear of the Other in society what would it be?

Hello Brendan. I knew Jo at Cambridge - she was an amazing person and I was so shocked to learn of her tragic death last year. The dignity with which you have responded to what happened has been inspiring. My heart goes out to you and your beautiful kids. I hope that they know what a special person their mum was.

I really like the work that you're trying to do to bring communities together and I hope to organise something in my area. What a fitting tribute to Jo. I'm sure that she'd have loved it.

I have been wondering if you might follow Jo into parliament some day. It seems to me that we need more people like you in politics. Would you ever consider it?

This a brilliant and deeply moving idea. Thank you. It's just what the country needs right now.

My question is: how do we persuade the media to stop printing hate stories and fuelling the divisions within this country? It's easy to say "don't buy the paper, don't click on the website" but I do believe that certain elements of the media craftily manipulates us and then the damage is done.

Thank you. Seriously, THANK YOU.

Hello Brendan

What happened to Jo was deeply shocking. I'm very sorry for everything you and your family have had to go through.

How do you keep your optimism levels up? This past year has felt to me like an absolutely terrifying shitshow (UK and US, anyway. Mainland Europe seems to be escaping the worst of the madness).

I'm sure it's been a horrifying year for you on a personal level of course. What's your evidence or rationale for thinking that the UK can become a more united place? It feels like we're on a highway to division, anger and mutual incomprehension to me.

Hi Brendan,

Thank you for doing a webchat and I am sorry for your and your family's loss. I too admire what you have been doing in the last year - wishing you all the best for the great get together

My question is: what got you interested in campaigning and policy? Do you ever think 'it's time for a change' and long to do something completely different? It seems relentless and exhausting to me, and I have a huge respect for those like yourself who keep fighting.

Hello Brendan

I'm full of admiration for the way that you're preserving Jo's memory. My question is: where do you see the Jo Cox Foundation in 10 years?

Hi Brendan! I'm a Labour supporting feeling pretty worried about the way things will go in the June election. What do you think about Jeremy Corbyn in the run-up to the election: do you think everyone who is Labour-inclined should support him, even if they have concerns about his leadership? Would you support a change of leader if Labour loses badly?

Hi Brendan- have thought about you and your family a lot since you tragically lost Jo- how are your children coping? Sending you much love

Another Woolly Hugger checking in; already signed up for the Great Get Together.

People seem angry, frightened and divided on so many political issues at the moment: it's heartbreaking, and absolutely the opposite of what Jo stood for you. What is the biggest issue for you this election: what do you think is the area we should base our decision on?

I have followed you on Twitter for some time and have been greatly struck by your unshakeable dignity and composure. It is a great privilege for us to have you here.

Hello Brendan,

I was so shocked by what happened to Jo and can only begin to imagine what you and your family have been through. She was an inspiring lady, so thank you for carrying on her message and furthering her campaign work.

You and Jo have both worked in international development in the past. How do you counter the argument that we should 'put our own people first' rather than contributing to less developed countries?

Do you have any thoughts about the way Priti Patel is handling her international development brief?

I worry the Conservatives are going to do away with DFID - our foreign aid work and assistance is one of the only good things left about this country at the moment.

Thanks for doing this webchat, and I wish you and your family all the best.

Hi Brendan. Have often thought about you and your family over the past year and have always hoped you've managed to hold onto each other to find strength and comfort.

Do you have any advice for viewing Brexit in a positive light? I'm asking because it was such a huge shock to me and 11 months on I'm still trying to get to grips with it - and you seem to have such poise and calmness (not to mention a great deal of faith in your neighbours & fellow humans, which is something I am badly struggling with!). Any pointers to try and pick myself up would be appreciated.
I love the Get Together idea - street parties are one things we do well in this country and I think the initiative has loads of potential! I'll try and get involved for sure.

Wishing you & the children all the very best.

Hi Brendan,

I just want to say thanks for chatting to us and for this fantastic campaign in the face of your great loss. I will certainly be encouraging my community to get involved.

My question is - Do you think the people are too cynical about MPs in general, and that there's a worrying level of hostility towards them? If so, is there anything we can do about this?

Hi Brendan,
It's an honour to have you join us here.
I'm actually from the Kirklees area and I see positive examples of different races getting along every day.
How do we highlight positive stories of integration and united mixed communities more? The media never talks about it but i see it all around me. How do we show the struggles that people such as my parents and grandparents went through just to integrate successfully? Is there anything more I could do? I actually have a lovely picture of my husband and a local imam digging with some army lads to help the victims of the Cumbrian floods a couple of years ago.Jo wrote my husband a letter to thank him for volunteering to go down and help to bring communities together. By all means you can use the picture in future if you need it.

Hello! Another woolly-hugger here. I often think of the children. How are they liking their blankets? PS if they lose any "bits" (like my children would) more can be provided by the woolly hugs route, if it is still open

Hi Brendan,
Just saying hi. I hope you and your children feel you've been well supported since last year.
Best wishes,
Molly

Does it bother you when people, usually right wingers, fail to identify your wife's murder as a terrorist act?

Hi Brendan,

Thank you so very much for coming on here. For me I would like to ask what the best ways there are to counter the negativity that the right-wing media and populism result in? I am scared about the society I am bringing my boys up in and worry about the great divide between those currently in power and the majority of working age people, especially the young and unemployed.

I would like to see your ideas on ways we can ensure that people know that overall we are still a tolerant society and that we see strength in diversity - how we can take over the airwaves from the current media climate?

Hello Brendan,

Thanks for coming here today. You and your family have been in my thoughts very much in the past few months. I wish you all so much strength and peace. So many people are rooting for you.

As a result of a number of events including Jo's death, Brexit, and me having two small children, I feel less inclined to take part in the usual mainstream political debating. I used to do a lot of protest and party stuff!

Instead, I've decided I am better off just 'doing' stuff locally and as a result I have volunteered with Guides and more recently am helping to get The Big Lunch/ Great Get Together happening on our street.
We're hoping to carry on our 'get togethers' in the form of "Playing Out' and seeking to organise regular sessions to close the street and enable kids to play freely and older residents to come and have a chat too.

I just wanted to bring this to your attention as I feel there is much scope to counter loneliness and increase social contact (a very sterile phrase!) by these gatherings. More info here playingout.net ( i don't work for them but am so impressed by their supportive approach).

Also, the phrase 'tolerant society' is very often heard. But how do we go beyond tolerance? I now believe that tolerance is putting up with something you don't actually like. Its also perhaps has a time limit on it. So, I wonder if you have any idea of how we can move beyond tolerance to just a society where 'belonging' is easy and for everyone?

Sorry - not very easy questions. Thanks for offering chance for me to share thoughts.

Good luck with the memoir and I, like many others, are looking forward to hearing more from the Jo Cox Foundation.

All the best,

sunnyhen

Hi Brendan,

Thank you for coming to Mumsnet. I am so sorry for your loss and that of your children. Like other posters, I often think of Jo and am still in disbelief that her death did not make enough people realise the damage that Brexit would do. It is evident everywhere that the vote itself - not the result - has divided our nation as never before.

I am so glad that her legacy will live on through efforts to unite communities.

I wondered what sort of engagement you had had with Leave voters regarding the get together, and if you could see a more united future between them and those who voted Remain?

test

Hi Brendan

Thanks for coming on. It is wonderful to see that you are continuing Jo's work. Her name comes up frequently as we had many common friends (university/Oxfam). She was such an inspirational women. I hope you and the children are doing ok. It must be impossibly hard.

I have read a few times, both in interviews with Jo before she died, and since with Kim, that Jo's confidence was really knocked by her Cambridge experience. Kim said she used to detest public speaking but she ended up so confident and proficient.

What changed? What techniques did she use?

I suppose I am in a similar situation- from working class roots to a Cambridge degree and all the while suffering with imposter syndrome! Although I now work as a professional, I still struggle with confidence issues and public speaking. I would also dearly love to go into politics one day (being very pro Eu and labour-although not under the current leadership) and would love to hear how she overcame her fears.

Ps to the poster above- good luck with playing out. We have a local one and it's truly wonderful!!