Ipswich MP marks 10 years since Jo Cox's murder with community picnic aimed at bringing people together
It will be held tomorrow afternoon at Christchurch Park
An Ipswich MP is inviting residents to come together for a community picnic to mark the tenth anniversary of the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.
Jack Abbott will host the event in Christchurch Park tomorrow (Friday, June 19, 2026) as part of the national Great Get Together initiative, which was established in the aftermath of Ms Cox's death in 2016.
The annual campaign celebrates community, connection and togetherness, inspired by Ms Cox's message that "we have far more in common than that which divides us".
"It's such a great leveller and a way to unite people"
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Abbott said the anniversary comes at a time when Ms Cox's message feels "more important than ever before".
"Many of us remember how, in the days that followed Jo's murder, people responded not with fear, but with something Jo believed in deeply: connection," he said.
"Neighbours came together. Differences were set aside. Communities chose unity over division.
"Her enduring message that we have far more in common than that which divides us feels even more urgent today."
The picnic will take place on the lawn in front of Christchurch Mansion between 3.30pm and 6.30pm, with residents encouraged to bring their own food and drinks and spend time with others from across the community.
Mr Abbott said the event was intended to be a simple but meaningful way of bringing people together.
"We can bring together people, communities for a picnic," he said.
"Food's always the great unifier for people, but really what it is, is a great relaxed way, no agenda, nothing else other than let's celebrate our town, celebrate all the different people within it."
"We have to find ways to agree to disagree and do so respectfully."
The event forms part of a wider weekend of community celebrations in Ipswich and Suffolk, including Windrush Day events, the return of the Saints Market and Suffolk Day.
Reflecting on Ms Cox's murder ten years ago, Mr Abbott said it remained a moment of national shock.
"I think it's fair to say everybody, whether they're involved in politics or not, were in absolute horror of what happened," he said.
He also referenced the 2021 murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, saying both deaths highlighted the importance of maintaining respectful public debate.
"Politics is healthy when we can have disagreement, when we can have conversation, sometimes even argument, but we have to find ways to agree to disagree. We do so respectfully."
"We're in a dark period"
Mr Abbott said he was concerned by what he described as growing division within public life and online discourse.
"I do worry that actually we're in a very, very dark period, not just in terms of politics, but as a country," he said.
"You see the riots that's happening, you see far-right actors coming in, you saw the arson attack on the Prime Minister.
"So Jo's message of uniting people, bringing together people, is more important than ever before."
Despite those concerns, he said he remained optimistic about the future and the willingness of communities to come together.
"Most people want something much better than what that offers," he said.
"I meet people who are really decent, fantastic, work so hard for their community and for Ipswich as a whole.
"They really inspire me."
Mr Abbott said initiatives such as the picnic may appear small, but can play an important role in fostering stronger communities.
"People will say, what's a picnic going to do?" he said.
"Actually, it's a very soft way of just bringing people together, to get people chatting away and hearing about what's going on in their lives.
"It's such a great leveller and a way to unite people."
The event is part of The Great Get Together, organised by the Jo Cox Foundation, which was established following Ms Cox's death to continue her work supporting stronger communities and promoting respect in public life.