Not enough progress in healing divisions since Jo Cox murder, parents warn
Not enough progress has been made to heal toxic divisions in society, theparents of murdered MP Jo Cox said after the end of a 288-mile charity bike ride marking her legacy.
On Sunday, 40 cyclists aged between 15 and 74 completed the final leg of The Jo Cox Way fundraiser in support of the charity set up by the MP's family following her death.
The five-day route from her Batley and Spen constituency to central Londonsymbolically marked Ms Cox's journey from her home to becoming an MP.
She was 41 when she was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016. Finishing the fourth annual ride, Ms Cox's sister Kim Leadbeater led thecyclists across the finish line where they were greeted by her parents Gordon and Jean Leadbeater.
After setting off from West Yorkshire on Wednesday, the group of cyclists faced two days of "particularly ridiculous" weather due to the record-breaking heatwave which swept the country on Thursday.
The heat worsened the existing challenges of the route which included 6,000ft of climbing on the first day.
As well as winding through many towns and villages, the pack of cyclists had overnight stops in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Buckinghamshire and Middlesex.
The 288-mile ride was taken in stages over the five days, accompanied by three vans to support the mixture of experienced and non-experienced cyclists.
Celebrating the end of the epic journey, Ms Cox's family said the divisions insociety that were highlighted after the MP's murder have increased despitelip-service from many politicians at the time.
Miss Leadbeater said:
Ms Cox's parents urged politicians to think before they speak in a way thatcould divide the country further.
Mr Leadbeater said:
The ride raised more than £7,000 from a target of £10,000, with organisershoping that more donations will arrive in the coming days.
Ms Cox's parents said the charity ride was one way in which they were committed to leaving a legacy for their daughter's young children.Her father said:
Sunday's event was supported by one of Ms Cox's Labour colleagues, Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Neil Coyle.
He said: "This event is an extension of the positivity that is Jo's legacy andas people are continuing to raise funds and want to show that we are a better society when we celebrate all we have in common.
"We have a really volatile national situation and I think the country is at acrossroads and is still deeply divided after the referendum.
"Anything that helps bring people together through Jo's legacy is reallyimportant and we don't celebrate when it happens enough. Government, inparticular, doesn't invest in that social cohesion."