Latest news with #BrendanCox
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Bid to save Britain from more riots and ease community tensions launched by expert taskforce
POLITICIANS are joining forces to unite the country in the hope of avoiding more riots like those seen last summer. Former Home Secretary Sir Sajid Javid says growing community tensions have been ignored by politicians for too long. 1 He said: 'Successive governments have treated community and cohesion as second-tier issues — responding only when tensions spill over and too often ignoring the root causes.' Sir Sajid is co-chairman — with ex- Labour MP Jon Cruddas — of the cross-party Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion. Sir Keir Starmer has warned of mounting 'cracks in our foundation', while Nigel Farage has warned of civil unrest because of anger over immigration. The taskforce was set up following last summer's riots in Southport, Sunderland and across the UK and meets for the first time today. It brings together 21 experts from politics, business, media and religion, including Reform -supporting commentator Tim Montgomerie, founder of Cobra beer Lord Bilimoria and former counter-extremism czar Dame Sara Khan. Brendan Cox of Together, which assembled the commission, said: 'Declining community connection and growing division is an existential threat to democracy. 'It won't be solved by more of the same - or by a single party or government. 'We will only see progress if we can forge both a shared vision of where we are going, and an effective roadmap of how to get there. 'That's not an easy thing to do - especially not in the current climate - but it's an extraordinary group of people who have committed to helping try.'
The Sun
18-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Almost half of Brit population joined in VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations smashing previous records
A RECORD 31.1million people joined the VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations earlier this month. Almost half the country took part in some way, by attending street parties, parades or by observing the two-minute silence. 8 8 8 8 8 It smashed the record set by the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, when 16.8million people took part. Brendan Cox, whose Together Coalition helped promote the commemoration, said: 'The historic levels of participation tell us there is a desire to connect with our shared history and to celebrate shared values together. 'At a time when our politics is more fragmented than ever, it's all the more welcome our country is still able to come together to celebrate what we have in common.' The events marked eight decades since the end of World War Two in Europe on May 8, 1945. A military parade past Buckingham Palace was watched by the Royal Family and veterans. Thousands of street parties were also set up across Britain. A service was held in Westminster Abbey and 10,000 people joined the King and Queen at a pop concert on Horse Guards Parade. VE Day was a 'jolly' moment but work went on, 100-year-old former Wren says 8 8 8
The Independent
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Families of murdered MPs reject Kneecap's ‘half an apology'
The husband and daughter of two murdered MPs have condemned Irish rap group Kneecap over footage allegedly showing the band calling for MPs to be killed. Brendan Cox, whose wife Jo Cox was murdered in 2016, said Kneecap's statement of regret on Monday was 'only half an apology' and lacked genuine reflection. 'It's fine to say that you're sorry for it, but the way that they have actually spoken about it is to suggest that it's a conspiracy, that they have been targeted unfairly and for me that then doesn't come across as, unfortunately, particularly genuine,' he told BBC Radio Ulster. 'The apology that they've given I don't think has grappled enough with the gravity of what they said,' he added. 'It wasn't a throwaway remark – it was a very clear incitement to violence.' Mr Cox said he would be open to meeting the band 'if that was part of a genuine journey' to reject political violence. But he warned that their response felt more about 'saving their bookings or their tour' than true remorse. Kneecap denied inciting violence, calling the clip 'deliberately taken out of context', but did say: 'To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies.' Katie Amess, daughter of Conservative MP Sir David Amess – killed in 2021 – called the group's comments 'absolutely devastating'. 'To hear people lauding it – and hoping it will be done again is just absolutely shattering,' she told GB News. 'You're speaking to thousands of people that are young, that are impressionable. 'It's not art – it is verbatim telling people to go on and commit a murder.' She added: 'It's not a game. It's not funny. This is serious. 'They need to apologise and think before they speak about the actions that could come from these horrible words.'
BreakingNews.ie
29-04-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Families of murdered MPs reject Kneecap's ‘half an apology'
The husband and daughter of two murdered British MPs have condemned Irish rap group Kneecap over footage allegedly showing the band calling for MPs to be killed. Brendan Cox, whose wife Jo Cox was murdered in 2016, said Kneecap's statement of regret on Monday was 'only half an apology' and lacked genuine reflection. Advertisement 'It's fine to say that you're sorry for it, but the way that they have actually spoken about it is to suggest that it's a conspiracy, that they have been targeted unfairly and for me that then doesn't come across as, unfortunately, particularly genuine,' he told BBC Radio Ulster. Brendan Cox said Kneecap's response felt more about 'saving their bookings or their tour' than true remorse (Peter Byrne/PA) 'The apology that they've given I don't think has grappled enough with the gravity of what they said,' he added. 'It wasn't a throwaway remark – it was a very clear incitement to violence.' Mr Cox said he would be open to meeting the band 'if that was part of a genuine journey' to reject political violence. Advertisement But he warned that their response felt more about 'saving their bookings or their tour' than true remorse. Kneecap denied inciting violence, calling the clip 'deliberately taken out of context', but did say: 'To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies.' Katie Amess, daughter of Conservative MP Sir David Amess – killed in 2021 – called the group's comments 'absolutely devastating'. 'To hear people lauding it – and hoping it will be done again is just absolutely shattering,' she told GB News. Advertisement 'You're speaking to thousands of people that are young, that are impressionable. Katie Amess said the group needed to apologise and think before they spoke (Stefan Rousseau/PA) 'It's not art – it is verbatim telling people to go on and commit a murder.' She added: 'It's not a game. It's not funny. This is serious. 'They need to apologise and think before they speak about the actions that could come from these horrible words.' Advertisement
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What we know about VE Day celebrations for 80th anniversary of Second World War ending
Concerts, services and processions have been announced to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day in May this year. The government said that four days of events have been planned for the anniversary, and urged people to celebrate with street parties. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said this year's anniversary offers 'important opportunities for communities to come together'. She said the commemorations will be an opportunity to 'hear our veterans' stories first hand, to reflect and remember, and ensure that their stories of sacrifice and service are remembered for generations to come'. The Together Coalition, which is organising the VEDay80 community campaign, have announced bank holiday street parties and barbecues will be organised – including a street party on the surviving warship HMS Belfast. VE Day is on 8 May, which falls on a Thursday in 2025. However, celebrations kick off on Monday, 5 May with events including a military procession and flypast in London, followed by community-focused activities like street parties across the country. The commemorations will build toward the anniversary itself on 8 May. The celebrations for VE Day kick off on the early May bank holiday on 5 May – but there will not be an extra bank holiday for the day itself. There had been some suggestions that the government were planning on giving Britons an extra bank holiday on VE Day but that was quashed at the time. The prime minister's spokesperson said in November that the VE Day plans 'do not include an additional bank holiday' – and this has not been announced in the planned commemorations. As it's the 80th anniversary of VE Day this year, a whole host of events and celebrations are planned, spreading across four days. Monday 5 May Military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace Flypast of current and historic military aircraft including the Red Arrows Street party on HMS Belfast Country-wide street parties, barbecues and community get togethers Tuesday 6 May Installation of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London Evening light-up of historic landmarks across the UK Wednesday 7 May Anniversary concert in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster Thursday 8 May (VE Day) Service at Westminster Abbey Concert for 10,000 members of the public at Horse Guards Parade in central London The government has announced that street parties will be taking place – and have encouraged people to set up their own. Brendan Cox, co-founder of the Together Coalition, which is organising the VEDay80 community campaign, said year's events offer 'a great opportunity to celebrate what we have in common, and to use the celebrations to reach out to neighbours, friends and our wider communities'. Bank holiday street parties and barbecues will be organised by the coalition, and the first day of events includes a street party on the surviving warship HMS Belfast. Bruno Peek, pageant master of the commemoration, said: 'We encourage everyone to take part – raise the VE Day flag at 9am, gather in streets, gardens, town halls, clubs and pubs. Let this be a day of joy, reflection, and celebration.' VE Day stands for Victory in Europe Day and commemorates the moment when the Second World War came to an end in Europe. On 8 May 1945 the Allied forces formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, a surrender that silenced the guns across the continent after nearly six years of conflict. VE Day marked a turning point that sparked jubilation from London's streets to rural villages across the country. Scenes from the day saw people dance, sing and wave flags, in a sign of patriotism and relief. VE Day followed months of grueling battles, including the D-Day landings and the relentless advance through occupied territories, which finally broke the back of Hitler's regime. On the 80th anniversary, VE Day still stands as a poignant reminder of the cost of freedom and the enduring legacy of a generation whose sacrifices paved the way for peace. Watch: Veterans and replica Spitfire in London for VE Day countdown
