Jo Cox Brendan Cox resigns from charities amid sexual assault claims Husband of murdered MP denies allegations but admits ‘mistakes’ while at Save the Children Brendan Cox said it had become ‘much more difficult’ to focus on his charity work after the allegations came to light. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA
The husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox has resigned from the two charities he set up in her memory after being publicly accused of sexual assault.
Brendan Cox has stepped down from his posts at More in Common and the Jo Cox Foundation after allegations, printed in the Mail on Sunday, that he had assaulted a woman in her 30s at Harvard University in 2015. Police filed her complaint as assault and battery but action against him was dropped.
Cox denied the claims in a statement issued on Saturday but admitted making mistakes in a previous role with the charity Save the Children.
“I want to apologise deeply and unreservedly for my past behaviour and for the hurt and offence that I have caused,” he said in the statement. “In the aftermath of Jo’s murder, I promised that I would dedicate my life to two things, firstly loving and protecting our children and secondly fighting the hatred that killed Jo.”
Jo Cox, a Labour MP, was shot and stabbed outside her constituency office in West Yorkshire by a far-right extremist during the EU referendum campaign in June 2016.
In the statement, Cox said: “While I do not accept the allegations contained in the 2015 complaint to the police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I do acknowledge and understand that during my time at Save the Children I made mistakes.”
Cox, who married his wife in 2009, was reported to police in the US in 2015 for inappropriate touching while on a trip to Harvard. A woman alleged he had bought her drinks, grabbed her hips and and forced his thumb into her mouth in a sexual manner, the Mail on Sunday reported. Cox denied the accusations and called some of the allegations against him a “massive exaggeration”.
Jo Cox’s sister, Kim Leadbeater, said in a statement on Sunday that it was another very difficult day for the family but that they would support Cox. “My priority is and always will be looking after Jo and Brendan’s children and supporting my parents, who have already been through so much,” she said.
“As a family we will support Brendan as he endeavours to do the right thing by admitting mistakes he may have made in the past, and we respect him for doing so. We all make mistakes. Brendan is a wonderful father and I have no doubt about the happiness he brought to Jo.”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Kim Leadbeater, Jo Cox’s sister: ‘As a family we will support Brendan as he endeavours to do the right thing by admitting mistakes he may have made in the past.’ Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian
Leadbeater said she would also continue the work of More in Common and the Jo Cox Foundation. “I have a fantastic team of people who have supported me so far and I know they will continue to do so as we focus on creating a positive legacy for Jo,” she said.
The Mail on Sunday reported in 2015 that Cox had stepped down from his position as chief strategist after allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” before a misconduct hearing.
In a statement, Save the Children said that Cox had been suspended and a disciplinary procedure begun after allegations in 2015, but Cox resigned before it could be completed.
The charity has launched a review into its procedure for dealing with complaints. Kevin Watkins, who took over as chief executive in late 2016, told UK staff last week that he would show “zero tolerance” of any disrespectful behaviour.
“It is vital that our hardworking staff, our beneficiaries and those who work with us are safe and can speak out without fear if they have any concerns,” said the charity.
Reflecting on his past behaviour in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Cox apologised for any hurt and offence caused. “Certainly, I had too much to drink at times. I probably behaved in a way I thought was sort of jokey or flirtatious. I often wasn’t being serious, but that was perceived differently by others,” he said.
“There was never any malice, any intention to upset or offend people. But the bigger picture is that you do have to face up to how you make people feel, not just what your intention was. I didn’t reflect on it – that’s not a defence, it’s a failing. It’s not good enough.”
The Labour MPs Yvette Cooper and Jess Phillips said Cox had made the right decision to stand down. “Hopefully we are seeing a change in climate and culture where people are recognising that those in positions of power should not abuse [those] positions,” Cooper told the Sky News programme Sunday with Niall Paterson.
Phillips, a friend of Jo and Brendan Cox, told ITV’s Peston on Sunday that society had entered an era where men had to address present a past behaviour. “The fact of the matter is that it’s not enough just to say ‘oh, I’m sorry’. You have to show how you’re going to change the way you are in the future and I think Brendan, more so than many I’ve seen in this area, is actually trying to do that.”
The environment secretary, Michael Gove, retweeted a post from the Labour MP Lucy Powell in which she praised Cox for “reflecting and taking responsibility for past actions”, adding: “I have worked with @MrBrendanCox and agree.”
BRENDAN Cox lost his wife, Labour MP Jo Cox, in 2016 when she was murdered by Thomas Mair.
In February 2018 the widower resigned from the charity set up in his wife's memory amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Here's the lowdown...
Reuters Jo Cox's widower Brendan Cox, pictured, standing next to a picture of his wife
Who is Brendan Cox? What's his background?
Brendan is the widower of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered in her Batley and Spen constituency in West Yorkshire in June 2016.
He is the father to Ms Cox's two children who were three and five when she was killed.
Brendan was an adviser on international development to Gordon Brown while he was prime minister.
The 41-year-old is a secular humanist - a philosophy that believes humans can be ethical and moral without religion or a god.
He has worked as a campaigner for many advocacy groups over the years including Save the Children.
He said in a 2011 interview that his biggest goal at the organisation was to increase the rate of child survival around the world.
Brendan and Jo met while he was working for Save the Children and she was working for Oxfam.
He was also the executive director of Crisis Action, which works with individuals and organisations to protect civilians from armed conflict.
Brendan has said he will fight the hatred that led to his wife's death.
SWNS:South West News Service Jo Cox, pictured, had two children with her husband Brendan Cox
Why has Brendan Cox resigned from the Jo Cox Foundation?
In February 2018 Brendan Cox stood down from the board of the charity set up in memory of his late wife.
A woman in her 30s claimed he assaulted her at Harvard University in 2015.
Brendan has denied the accusations but admitted "inappropriate" conduct while working for Save The Children.
In a statement he apologised for his behaviour and said he was standing down to protect the foundation's work.
He said: “While I do not accept the allegations in the 2015 complaint to the police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I acknowledge and understand that during my time at Save the Children I made mistakes and behaved in a way that caused some women hurt and offence.”
ITV Brendan Cox offered advice for dealing with grief to those who lost loved ones in the Manchester attack
What has Brendan said about Jo's murder?
Brendan Cox has spoken about the devastating impact Jo's murder has had on their family.
After her death he released a statement saying: "She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now: one, that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her."
He added: "Hate doesn't have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous."
Brendan also spearheaded an initiative called The Great Christmas Get Together, to pay tribute to his late MP wife.
He told Radio 4 ahead of the event: “Given that Jo’s killing was designed to tear us apart, to bring communities apart, we wanted to show how united our country remains."
"When Jo was killed a year ago it took the heart out of our family.
"The first emotion was shock, both numbing and shattering.
"That in time gave way to a grief that remains very fresh, very raw and continues to hit us in vicious waves when we least expect it. But our family has not been broken.
Getty Images Brendan and charity workers will encourage communities to come together in the wake of Jo's death
When did Jo Cox die and how was she killed?
The Labour MP for Batley and Spen was stabbed 15 times and shot three times by Nazi-obsessed loner Thomas Mair.
The killer struck in broad daylight on June 16 2016, a week before the EU referendum.
Mair was found guilty of her murder at the Old Bailey on November 23.
He was sentenced to a whole life tariff.
The husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, Brendan Cox, has quit two charities he set up in her memory after allegations of sexual assault were made public.
Mr Cox denied assaulting a woman in her 30s at Harvard University in 2015 - but admitted to "inappropriate" behaviour while working for Save the Children.
He has left posts at More in Common and the Jo Cox Foundation a week after the Mail on Sunday published the claims.
Mr Cox apologised for the "hurt and offence" caused by his past behaviour.
In a statement issued on Saturday, he said: "While I do not accept the allegations contained in the 2015 complaint to the police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I do acknowledge and understand that during my time at Save the Children I made mistakes."
Save the Children have said the complaints against Mr Cox were investigated in accordance with its procedures.
The charity confirmed that Brendan Cox was suspended and a disciplinary process begun but that he resigned before it was completed.
The charity also announced that its chief executive Kevin Watkins has ordered a review to establish "whether the system for dealing with complaints about behaviour in the workplace can be further improved".
Jo Cox's sister Kim Leadbeater said the family would "support Brendan as he endeavours to do the right thing by admitting mistakes he may have made in the past".
She added that "Brendan is a wonderful father and I have no doubt about the happiness he brought to Jo."
Mr Cox, who married Jo Cox in 2009, was reported to police in Massachusetts in the US in 2015 for "inappropriate touching" while on a trip to Harvard - a claim which he denies.
The father-of-two said some of the allegations against him were a "massive exaggeration", but conceded that he had at times "overstepped the line".
In 2015 the Mail on Sunday reported that Brendan Cox had stepped down from his position as chief strategist at Save the Children over allegations of "inappropriate behaviour" which he at the time denied.
More details of Mr Cox's alleged behaviour emerged after Oxfam issued its own apology over a sex scandal involving aid workers in Haiti.
'Dedication' to charity
Labour MP Mrs Cox was fatally shot and stabbed outside her constituency office in West Yorkshire by a far-right extremist during the EU Referendum campaign in 2016.
Mr Cox said it had become "much more difficult" to focus on the two charities he set up after his wife's death, the community group More in Common and the Jo Cox Foundation.
"For that reason, while away over half term, I decided to step down from my current public roles for the time being," he said.
Image copyright Brendan Cox Image caption Labour MP Jo Cox died after being attacked in her West Yorkshire constituency
He added: "In the past I have focused on disputing what I felt was untrue in the allegations, but I realise now that it's more important to take full responsibility for what I have done."
A spokesperson for the Jo Cox Foundation said the charity "admired" Mr Cox's contribution as a trustee.
"The trustees and staff have admired the integrity, commitment and dedication that Brendan has shown in our work to create a positive legacy for Jo," they said.
Speaking on the Peston on Sunday programme Labour MP and friend of Mr Cox, Jess Phillips, said he was right to step down from his positions at the charities.
She said that men were "going to have to address their behaviour" but added she didn't like the idea that "we switch off our feelings about people."
"I love Brendan. He is my friend. His family are friends with my family.
"It's not enough to just say you're sorry, you have to show the way you are going to change in the future.
"And I think Brendan, more so than many I've seen in this area, is actually trying to do that."
The husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox has stepped down from the charities he set up in her memory following accusations of sexual harassment.
Brendan Cox has left his role as director of More In Common and The Jo Cox Foundation after saying he would “take full responsibility” for his actions.
A former colleague from Save the Children made accusations about his conduct, which were then followed up by allegations published in the Mail on Sunday that he forced himself on a woman during a trip to Harvard University in 2015 which was reported to the police.
Mr Cox denied preying on the two women while he was married to Jo Cox and described the allegations as a “massive exaggeration”. He did however admit that his behaviour had made “people feel uncomfortable”.
“I want to apologise deeply and unreservedly for my past behaviour and for the hurt and offence that I have caused,” Mr Cox said.
“In the aftermath of Jo’s murder, I promised that I would dedicate my life to two things, firstly loving and protecting our children and secondly fighting the hatred that killed Jo.
Floral tributes and candles are placed by a picture of slain Labour MP Jo Cox at a vigil in Parliament square in London on 16 June, 2016 (Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP /Getty)
“In the last few days allegations from several years ago have resurfaced that makes concentrating on both of those tasks much more difficult. For that reason, while away over half-term, I decided to step down from my current public roles for the time being.
“While I do not accept the allegations contained in the 2015 complaint to the police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I do acknowledge and understand that during my time at Save the Children I made mistakes and behaved in a way that caused some women hurt and offence. This was never malicious but it was certainly inappropriate.
“In the past I have focused on disputing what I felt was untrue in the allegations, but I realise now that it’s more important to take full responsibility for what I have done.
“I am committed to holding myself to much higher standards of personal conduct in the future.”
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The Jo Cox Foundation said it accepted the resignation and that it remained committed to continuing on the work.
“Since establishing the Jo Cox Foundation, the trustees and staff have admired the integrity, commitment and dedication that Brendan has shown in our work to create a positive legacy for Jo,” a spokesperson for the charity said.
“The Jo Cox Foundation was established in September 2016 to channel the energy and determination generated by Jo’s life and murder into practical efforts to advance the causes she championed.
“The trustees and staff remain committed to continuing this important work and honouring Jo’s life.”
