Jo Cox the Labour MP representing Batley and Spen has died after she was shot and stabbed in an attack in her constituency, West Yorkshire Police have confirmed. Jo Cox, had been left bleeding on the ground by her attacker who engaged her during campaigning in the EU referendum.
A 52-year-old man was arrested nearby. EU referendum campaigning has been suspended as a mark of respect. Jo’s husband Brendan Cox said, she would want people “to unite to fight against the hatred that killed her”.
Tributes have poured in from politicians, sympathisers and admirers. People from all race have gathered outside the Parliament for a vigil in her honour. British Prime Minister David Cameron in his tribute said, “The death of opposition Labour lawmaker Jo Cox is a tragedy. The death of Jo Cox is a tragedy. She was a committed and caring MP (Member of Parliament). My thoughts are with her husband Brendan and her two young children,” he said on Twitter. Mr Cameron said “This is absolutely tragic and dreadful news. My thoughts are with Jo’s husband Brendan, their two children and their wider family. ‘We’ve lost a great star, she was a great campaigning MP with huge compassion and a big heart.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the country would be “in shock at the horrific murder”, describing the MP as a “much loved colleague”. He added: “Jo died doing her public duty at the heart of our democracy, listening to and representing the people she was elected to serve. “In the coming days, there will be questions to answer about how and why she died. “But for now all our thoughts are with Jo’s husband Brendan and their two young children. They will grow up without their mum, but can be immensely proud of what she did, what she achieved and what she stood for.” Jeremy Corbyn said: “The whole of the Labour Party and Labour family – and indeed the whole country – will be in shock at the horrific murder of Jo Cox today. “Jo had a lifelong record of public service and a deep commitment to humanity. She worked both for Oxfam and the antislavery charity, the Freedom Fund, before she was elected last year as MP for Batley and Spen – where she was born and grew up. “Jo was dedicated to getting us to live up to our promises to support the developing world and strengthen human rights – and she brought those values and principles with her when she became an MP. “Jo died doing her public duty at the heart of our democracy, listening to and representing the people she was elected to serve. It is a profoundly important cause for us all.” He said Ms Cox was “universally liked at Westminster, not just by her Labour colleagues, but across Parliament”. He added: “In the coming days, there will be questions to answer about how and why she died. But for now all our thoughts are with Jo’s husband Brendan and their two young children. They will grow up without their mum, but can be immensely proud of what she did, what she achieved and what she stood for. “We send them our deepest condolences. We have lost a much-loved colleague, a real talent and a dedicated campaigner for social justice and peace. But they have lost a wife and a mother, and our hearts go out to them.”
Home Secretary Theresa May said the pain Ms Cox’s family and friends must be enduring was “unimaginable”, adding: “Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this terrible time.” Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on his tweeter handle said, “Shocked to hear terrible news about brilliant MP and friend Jo Cox. Thinking of her and praying for her and family”. Shocked to hear terrible news about brilliant MP and friend Jo Cox. Thinking of her and praying for her and family.
Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, Gordon Brown in a statement released about the death of Jo Cox said, “Our memories will be forever scarred by this moment. Our hearts will always be hurt at our country’s loss. Jo Cox was the most vivacious, personable, dynamic and committed friend you could ever have. Whenever you talked to her, the compassion in her eyes and the commitment in her soul shone through. Years of public service advancing the causes she cared passionately about should have been ahead of her. Sarah and I were privileged to work with Jo and her husband Brendan over many years and in her tireless efforts on behalf of poor and desolate children and mothers. She went to some of the most dangerous places in the world. The last place she should have been in danger was in her home town. People will say that this does not happen in Britain. This should not happen in Britain. And we must resolve that this will never again happen in Britain. My and Sarah’s thoughts and prayers are with Brendan and their two young children Cuillin and Lejla this evening. They will have all our support in the difficult days ahead. For them and for those of us who were Jo’s friends, this is a devastating day. And it is a devastating blow to our democracy.”
Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, has said that she would have wanted people to “unite” to “fight against the hatred that killed her”. In a statement released following her death he said: “Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love. I and Jo’s friends and family are going to work every moment of our lives to love and nurture our kids and to fight against the hate that killed Jo. Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy, and a zest for life that would exhaust most people. She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, one that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn’t have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous. Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full”.
