Jo Cox Civility Commission

Baroness Smith of Llanfaes Excerpts

Thursday 18th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)]

My Lords, I cannot disagree with what the noble Baroness, Lady Dacres, just shared with us. Particularly, I think that this House and the other place have welcomed many women who have come through the Jo Cox programme, and that has made our politics much better and richer.

“We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us”.—[Official Report, Commons, 3/6/15; cols. 675-76.]


As we mark the 10th anniversary of the murder of Jo Cox MP, we are reminded of her profound legacy and the enduring power of those words. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Royall, for bringing this important debate before the House. I have been deeply moved by the many thoughtful contributions we have heard today.

While I did not have the privilege of knowing Jo personally, I have, in a small way, come to know her through her sister, Kim. Most recently, we found ourselves on opposing sides in an interparliamentary tug of war, raising funds for Macmillan. It was a light-hearted moment but also a powerful demonstration of what can bring us together, even across lines of difference.

The Jo Cox Civility Commission’s recent report, A Renewed Call to Action for the devolved nations, offers a series of important and practical recommendations which deserve careful consideration. The findings are striking: some 75% of Senedd Members and Welsh MPs reported that there are times when they feel unsafe in their role. Many elected representatives across the devolved nations do not feel able to participate in public life fully and freely. Abuse and intimidation, we are told, are driving people away from politics altogether. This is deeply concerning. A healthy democracy depends on participation and on people from all backgrounds feeling able to step forward, serve and speak without fear.

The report’s recommendations are constructive and grounded in collaboration between elected representatives and civil society. They include calls for the devolved Parliaments to provide clearer guidance and support to Members and their families; for adequate resourcing of Operation Ford, the police support mechanism for elected representatives; for political parties to enforce robust codes of conduct; and for all of us in public life to model respectful behaviour.

I particularly commend the recommendations specific to Wales. They are practical, clearly articulated and directed to the appropriate institutions. At a time when political discourse can feel increasingly divisive, such clarity and focus are especially welcome.

I have always believed that disagreement is both natural and necessary in a democracy. At its best, it sharpens thinking and leads to better outcomes, but tone matters. We are seeing with growing frequency forms of political discourse that are unnecessarily abrasive and, at times, that seek to demonise entire communities. That does little to advance understanding and risks deepening division. We all, individually and collectively, have a responsibility to set a better example.

Turning again to the report, its publication in the lead-up to elections in both Wales and Scotland may, understandably, have meant that some of its messages were lost amid the pre-election debate. However, even in the months since, there have been welcome signs of progress in Wales, thanks to the report. The Senedd has begun piloting a social media monitoring scheme to support Members, and has published its report, A Senedd for All: Report of the Family-Friendly and Inclusive Parliament Review, which includes proposals to address abuse, including the establishment of a safe participation in politics taskforce. Further, the Welsh Government have taken important steps, including exempting safety-related expenditure from campaign finance limits and introducing voluntary diversity and inclusion guidance for political parties—guidance that my own party, Plaid Cymru, has engaged with actively.

During the recent Senedd election, the Jo Cox Foundation also contributed to the development of a digital safety guide for candidates, working alongside organisations such as Shout Out UK, Glitch and Elect Her. I know that many candidates found this resource not only practical but reassuring, at what can be a particularly exposed moment in public life.

These are all positive developments, but there is clearly much more to be done. I would therefore be grateful if the noble Baroness, Lady Royall, could provide an update on the responses received from institutions and bodies in Wales to these recommendations and on whether she anticipates any barriers to their full implementation. I would also like to ask the Minister a specific question relating to the recommendation directed at His Majesty’s Government; namely, what consideration has been given to expanding the remit and resourcing of the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre to cover Members of the devolved Parliaments, in addition to its existing responsibilities for Members in the other place and First Ministers?

If we are serious about honouring Jo Cox’s legacy, we must ensure that public life remains open, safe and respectful. Civility is not a constraint on political disagreement; it is a condition that makes healthy disagreement possible. So, we must ask: what kind of politics do we want to model for those who come after us and for the communities that Parliament is here to serve?