# Jo Cox's widower on the attack on Helen Haines

> Brendan Cox, whose wife was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016, reflects on an alleged attack on Australian MP Helen Haines and what democracies must do in response.
- Title: Jo Cox's widower on the attack on Helen Haines · the Guardian
- Summary: Brendan Cox, whose wife was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016, reflects on an alleged attack on Australian MP Helen Haines and what democracies must…
- Keywords: breaking, jo cox, brendan cox, helen haines, political violence, democracy, uk politics, australian politics, news, politics, Cox's, widower
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/21/my-wife-jo-cox-was-murdered-in-her-constituency-in-2016-the-alleged-attack-on-helen-haines-is-a-punch-to-the-gut-ntwnfb
- Published: 2026-10-20T23:11:35+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, jo cox, brendan cox, helen haines, political violence, democracy, uk politics, australian politics, news, politics
## A message that brings dread
Brendan Cox, widower of murdered UK Labour MP Jo Cox, received messages from friends on Monday asking if he was OK.
## The alleged attack on Helen Haines
Cox learned of an alleged attack on Australian MP Helen Haines. He describes the news as a punch to the gut, followed by shock, deep sorrow and despair that another elected representative had been so…
## Jo Cox murdered in twenty sixteen
Jo Cox, Cox's late wife, was murdered in twenty sixteen in her constituency in Yorkshire, England by a far-right extremist as she went about her constituency work.
## Echoes between two attacks
Both incidents took place in small towns far from power.Helen Haines, like Jo Cox, has a deep connection with her community.
## What democracies can do
Cox says he does not know what motivated the alleged attack on Haines, which is still under investigation.Whatever the motivation, it damages democracy.There can only be one appropriate response: to work together to strengthen it.

> Whatever the motivation, it damages democracy. And there can only be one appropriate response: to work together to strengthen it.
## Moments as turning points
Cox knows from bitter experience that moments like these can become turning points.They can reinforce divisions, fuel anger and increase fear.

> Moments like these can reinforce our divisions or remind us of what we stand to lose when hatred and intimidation are allowed to brutalise our democracy.
## After Jo Cox was killed
After Jo Cox was killed, Cox saw extraordinary acts of kindness and solidarity.People who had never met her came together to celebrate her life and values.
## The choice ahead for democracies
Political debate across democracies is becoming more hostile.Opponents are portrayed as enemies to defeat at any cost.Online, contempt is rewarded and threats are normalised.
## Key takeaway

Brendan Cox, whose wife Jo Cox was murdered in her constituency in twenty sixteen, says the alleged attack on Australian MP Helen Haines shows democracies must choose to strengthen themselves rather than allow hatred to divide them further.