The Bookshelf: Jo Cox, More in Common

MPs looking for lessons on political leadership need look no further than this book for a good starting point.

As my sister handed me 'Jo Cox, More in Common' a few months ago, I felt a slight shiver tingle down my spine. There's a certain emotion that I knew comes with reading about one's role models. Jo Cox's style of political leadership and advocacy has long held a high standard in my mind. During a time where we are welcoming a fresh wave of MPs to Parliament, there are a few reasons why I think all MPs - former and new alike - should read this book.

If you've only heard of Jo Cox as the MP who was brutally murdered on 16th June 2016, it's time to change that and find out about the full life of this advocate. I use the word 'advocate' because it feels like that word is at the heart of everything she was.

Written by her husband, Brendan, Jo's life is skilfully laid out, with chapters interweaving a chronological development of Jo's life and the event and aftermath of Jo's death. From providing an overview of the people who shaped Jo's early years and the experiences that formed her - whether growing up in Batley, her experiences at Cambridge University or rising swiftly through to spheres of influence at Oxfam - to delving into her time as an MP, the book offers a complete overview of how a Yorkshire lass became a caring, campaigning, constituency-focused MP.

There are a few key lessons that stood out to me from the book, which I think are also useful considerations for all MPs to reflect on as they reflect on their roles.

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Consider Your 'Why'. The reasons people enter politics are multitudinous and subconcious reasons abound even below the outwardly articulated 'why'. Often, MPs enter Parliament with a few causes close to their hearts, either from experiences in the constituency or from personal history in a specific sector or volunteering role. Holding onto those causes and driving forward those key policy objectives are crucial for MPs seeking to retain their 'why', especially as they adapt to a varied and tumultuous programme of activity.

For Jo, one of those causes was advocating for the citizens of Syria during the Syrian crisis - unafraid to even criticise the failures of her own party whilst doing so. In Brendan's words, 'Parliament, the world and the people of Syria needed Jo's voice'. Sometimes the power of one voice can effect the greatest change and, occasionally, those voices either speak alone or as part of a small minority. Those who retain their sense of 'why' may suffer loneliness on occasion, but they will be at peace if they have been true to themselves and their cause.

Foster Cross-Party Ties. We have become so used to tribalism in our politics in recent years that there is a predisposition to forget sometimes just how many opportunities there are for those from different political stripes to work together. All-party parliamentary groups, select committees or policy-focused campaigns are just a few mechanisms by which these collaborations can take place. Every once in a while, we might hear stories of a Minister and their Shadow Minister counterpart getting on well and working together on a thorny policy issue. But the stories are more plentiful than we think and politicians who want to work together on meaningful issues do not have to find wider party differences an obstacle.

Despite being a fresh MP, Jo moved forward with vivacity in her first few weeks in Parliament. She approached Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell to talk about international development issues, given his previous experience in the field both in the Shadow Cabinet and as a Secretary of State. They went on to work together and set up an all-party parliamentary group - the Friends of Syria. Andrew later wrote of her: 'Jo might have been new to Westminster, but she led the way.' They were a powerful force together to speak out on the Syria conflict, despite being from different political parties.

Be Humble. The 'Westminster bubble' can do funny things to people. Egos become unnaturally inflated and it can be easy for MPs to get carried away with a sense of superiority. New generations of MPs seem much more aware of these dangers, and striving to remain grounded and humble is a battle worth fighting. Jo is certainly talked of as being incredibly self-aware and someone who would reflect on her mistakes...not to fester in a pit of self-pity, but instead to drive her forward to becoming an even better MP.

Define and Assess Success. Personalities abound in politics. Politicians have many different ways of tackling the role of being an MP - the breadth of the role, and the freedom for MPs to make of it what they will, is both a blessing and a curse. Defining what success looks like for both the politician themselves, and for the constituency, is surely a good starting point. Brendan writes that Jo undertook a self-assessment of her first year of being an MP, laying out where she thought her strengths and weaknesses were. Reflecting on this, she then wrote out objectives for the type of politician she wanted to be the following year. In a world where so many agendas and requests are flying around, having a clear and grounded focus through definining objectives early is a strategic advantage.

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More in Common.

In the aftermath of Jo's death, the organisation More in Common was set up. It seeks 'to understand polarisation and to work on initiatives to tackle division in our society'. The name of the organisation was taken from a line in Jo's maiden speech in Parliament - a simple, powerful, effective line: "We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us." It was a theme exemplified in Jo's life, not simply a phrase used to honour her memory in death. Doubltess, we will hear many maiden speeches over the next couple of weeks and my hope is that many will reflect the spirit in which Jo's first speech was given. A new Parliament is a new opportunity for politicians to come together and work together on what they hold in common, for the good of the country.

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The Bookshelf series provides personal book reviews on political books of interest.