UK names minister of loneliness
(CNN) – The United Kingdom takes social isolation seriously.
To tackle the problem, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Member of Parliament Tracey Crouch as the minister for loneliness. In the role, she’ll lead a cross-party group.
The recommendation for addressing the issue came from a report on the 2016 murder of fellow MP Jo Cox by a right-wing extremist.
The Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness was created as a response to her own experience of isolation.
Jo experienced & witnessed loneliness throughout her life especially as a new student at Cambridge University & separated from her sister Kim ?? for first time. She would be delighted by @tracey_crouch‘s new job as Minister for Loneliness & would be saying ‘let’s get to work!’ pic.twitter.com/ya5rdHmUVM
— Jo Cox Foundation (@JoCoxFoundation) January 17, 2018
“This is an issue that Jo cared passionately about and we will honor her memory by tackling it, helping the millions of people across the UK who suffer from loneliness,” Crouch said.
Both proud & humbled to be appointed #loneliness minister in order to continue Jo Cox’s great work & deliver recommendations of the @JoCoxFoundation working in partnership across gov, business & so many brilliant orgs/charities to combat social isolation & loneliness pic.twitter.com/6vhBcPzoFm
— Tracey Crouch (@tracey_crouch) January 17, 2018
An estimated 9 million Britons are affected by social isolation.
Copyright 2018 CNN. All rights reserved.