​Massive public response to donations sees new charity created in Jo Cox's name

Friends and family of murdered MP Jo Cox are to create a charity foundation in her memory.

It comes after donations to a GoFundMe page set-up shortly after her death topped more than £1.3m in under a week.

Donations over the page’s fundraising target of £1.5m will go to the foundation, a statement on the page said.

The fundraiser was set up by a group of Cox’s friends in collaboration with her husband Brendan.

Three charities – the Royal Voluntary Service, the White Helmets and Hope Not Hate – will receive a share of all money raised by the fundraising page up to £1.5m.

More than 42,000 people have donated so far.

It’s clear Jo’s death has touched so many people so deeply

The new charity being created will support causes Cox was passionate about, such as women’s empowerment, refugee support and fighting poverty.

"We are deeply moved by everyone's extraordinary generosity," the statement read.

“It’s clear Jo’s death has touched so many people so deeply, in ways we could never have imagined. Many people have asked us what happens next. In the spirit of Jo and on what would have been her 42nd birthday today, we want to lift our ambitions.

“We want to move ahead and establish a foundation to continue advancing the causes closest to Jo’s heart and to help give her a lasting legacy."

Google this week added a link to the GoFundMe page on its UK home page.

A live album from this weekend’s Glastonbury Festival has been dedicated to Cox with the proceeds to be donated to Oxfam.