THE BRADFORD district marked International Women’s Day this year by paying tribute to a West Yorkshire MP who was tragically murdered nearly seven years ago.

Jo Cox – who was shot and stabbed in Birstall in June 2016 – was remembered as part of the day, which aims to celebrate the contribution of women, as well as raise awareness of gender equality, women’s rights and violence against women and girls.

International Women’s Day is being celebrated today, but an event was held at the Kirkgate Community Centre in Shipley on Saturday.

It was organised by local Labour candidate Anna Dixon – who spoke about Ms Cox and her legacy – and council candidate Vera Martin.

“Jo’s life inspired me to leave my professional job, return home to West Yorkshire and stand to be an MP,” said Ms Dixon.

“Jo was the sort of MP I aspire to be – principled, full of integrity, hard-working and fully committed to the people and community she represented.”

Ms Dixon – who, if elected, will be the first female MP to represent the Shipley constituency – added: “Let us not forget the price she paid for standing up against hatred. Let us continue to focus on what we have in common, and not that which divides us”.

Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, also spoke at the event.

She told the audience: “It is so important to celebrate International Women's Day to say thank you to those women who have gone before us, who struggled to gain equality.

“It is also an opportunity to encourage other women to play their own confident part in society.

“There is still work to do. Shipley has never had a woman as an MP, so at the next general election, the people of Shipley constituency have the opportunity to make history.”

Shadow Minister for Inequalities and Women’s Issues, Baroness Glenys Thornton - who grew up in Bradford - was another guest speaker at the event.

“As we celebrate International Women’s Day in Shipley, I am reminded of the many women who have gone before us in breaking new ground, like the late Betty Boothroyd, who grew up in Dewsbury and went onto become the first and only Madam Speaker of the House of Commons,” she said.

The audience also heard from Nan Sloane, an acclaimed author, trainer and speaker, who spoke about her latest book – Uncontrollable Women: Radicals, Reformers and Revolutionaries.