Jo Cox Civility Commission

Baroness Dacres of Lewisham Excerpts

Thursday 18th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Dacres of Lewisham (Lab)]

My Lords, Jo Cox will always be remembered for the belief that we

“have far more in common than that which divides us”.—[Official Report, Commons, 3/6/15; col. 675.]

In today’s often angry and fractured political climate, those words feel as important and necessary as ever. They are a reminder of the kind of politics and society that many people want to see.

I was profoundly shaped by the inaugural Jo Cox Women in Leadership Programme, established in her memory to support more women into public life. Many women from the first cohort have gone on to serve in leadership roles across public life. I am proud to sit on these Benches with my noble friend Lady Hyde of Bemerton, who was part of our first cohort. That experience reinforced how important it is that politics feels open to people from every background, especially those who are too often excluded from leadership or unheard in various institutions. The lived experience, insight and perspectives that we bring to the table matter. They make our politics stronger, our decisions better and our democracy more representative.

The commission recognises that abuse, intimidation and hostility are not simply unpleasant features of modern politics; they silence voices, drive good people away from public service and weaken democratic participation itself. If people feel unable to engage in public life because of fear, intimidation or abuse, our democracy is poorer for it.

We also know that this abuse is not experienced equally. Women, people from ethnic-minority backgrounds and younger representatives are too often subjected to particularly vicious abuse. If that becomes normalised, we risk creating a politics where only the most privileged or thick-skinned feel able to participate. That cannot be acceptable in a healthy democracy.

Civility does not mean avoiding disagreement. Democracy depends on debate, challenge and scrutiny, but there is a profound difference between disagreement and dehumanisation. Freedom of speech is fundamental, but so are responsibility and accountability. Words can inspire and unite, but they can also wound and divide.

Too often, anger now travels faster than understanding. Social media can reward outrage over reflection and division over dialogue. Hostility and misinformation are amplified in ways that deepen division rather than understanding. That is why the commission’s focus on political and media literacy is so important. In an age of misinformation and polarisation, helping people develop the confidence and critical thinking skills to question and challenge what they see online or hear has become more important than ever. If we are honest, that lesson may not be limited to young people.

In Lewisham, I have seen the value of bringing people together across differences and generations through interfaith work, libraries, community spaces and civic participation. The more that people from different backgrounds, communities and cultures can learn from one another, share experiences and listen with openness, the stronger understanding, respect and trust between us become. That is why strengthening civility and strengthening community must go hand in hand. There must be stronger codes of conduct and higher standards of behaviour at all levels of public life.

In public life, language and behaviour that would be unacceptable elsewhere are sometimes dismissed as simply a part of politics. Those in public life at every level must lead by example through the tone they set, the respect they show and the standards they uphold.

One of the greatest tributes we can pay to Jo Cox’s memory is to build a politics where more people feel able to step forward and contribute, where different voices are welcomed and where we recognise that our differences need not divide us, because when people are encouraged to participate rather than pushed away, our democracy, communities and country are stronger for it. That is a responsibility we all must share.