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Luciana Berger pays tribute to murdered colleague Jo Cox after accepting Hate Crime Award

Jewish MP says Ms Cox 'paid the ultimate price for standing up for what she believed in'

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Labour's Luciana Berger has paid tribute to murdered colleague Jo Cox after picking up a prestigious award in her honour.

The Jewish MP received the Jo Cox Award at the No2H8 Crime Awards in central London on Thursday night in front of an audience including Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

The awards, recognising those at the forefront of tacking hate against all communities, brought more than 360 people to the Intercontinental Hotel.

The CST and Islamophobia watchdog Tell Mama were among a host of event partners.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Berger said it was an "enormous privilege and very humbling to receive this award in honour of my dear friend Jo Cox who paid the ultimate price for standing up for what she believed in.

Watch her speech below

"She embodied fortitude and courage and was an inspiration - and remains an inspiration to us all."

Paying tribute to all the award winners with their "incredible stories", the Liverpool Wavertree MP added: "I certainly never want to be described as a bystander and I think together as up-standers we have a job to do.

"There are many things that inspire me but in particular I subscribe to the quote 'all that it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing'."

Ms Berger was praised for her continued battle against antisemitism from both the far-right and far-left.

Her House of Commons speech earlier this year during a debate on antisemitism was also praised.

Former CST chief executive Richard Benson, who chairs the awards, said: “Luciana is a tireless campaigner who has been attacked because she is Jewish.

"In today’s world, we need more people like Luciana to stand up and be counted and this is why we developed the No2H8 Crime Awards. So people can be motivated, energised and driven to say ‘enough is enough’ and to stand up against hatred, prejudice and intolerance. Luciana is a hero against hate for many.”

Fiyaz Mughal, the founder of Faith Matters and creator of the awards, said: “I have known Luciana since she was in the National Union of Students. She was a fearless campaigner then and she is even more fearless now.

"As an MP, woman and advocate who happens to be Jewish, she is an inspiration at a time when we need role models. I also want to add that if anyone thinks Luciana will keep quiet because she is targeted. Think again.”

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