£20m investment in projects tackling loneliness as part of Jo Cox legacy

Twenty million pounds is to be pushed into projects that tackle loneliness as part of the legacy of the murdered Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox.

Theresa May announced the funding for community projects and charities that bring people together.

It comes ahead of the Great Get Together from June 22 to June 24, which will see events take place across the country to celebrate Mrs Cox's "more in common" philosophy on what would have been her 44th birthday.

More than half the money will form the Building Connections Fund, which will help open up spaces for community use and support projects that use technology to link people in remote areas and improve transport links to help people get together in person.

Last week saw the second anniversary of the killing of Mrs Cox, who was killed by Thomas Mair in her Batley and Spen constituency on June 16 2016.

The Great Get Together was set up in her memory to encourage people to stage a range of activities designed to bring communities closer together, from dog walks to street parties.

Kim Leadbeater Credit: Press Association

Kim Leadbeater, Jo's sister and part of the Jo Cox Foundation, said loneliness was a key issue to the late MP.