Analysis: In constituency where MP Jo Cox was murdered, the town is still a far-right battleground, despite many locals describing community as cohesive
Five years ago the historic mill town of Batley became the centre of a media circus when its MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right extremist. Cox’s tragic death in nearby Birstall at the hands of the white supremacist Thomas Mair looked set to cause ruptures in the community.
In her maiden speech the Labour MP Tracy Brabin, who was elected to replace Cox, said she would “stand tall against those whose only mission is to divide our community”. Brabin added that her constituency of Batley and Spen would “not be defined by the one person who took from us, but by the many who give”.
