Tributes to Labour MP fatally shot and stabbed

Labour MP Jo Cox has died after being shot and stabbed in the street outside her constituency advice office.

The mother of two children aged three and five was attacked by a man reportedly shouting “Britain first” at lunchtime yesterday in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

Eyewitnesses said he kicked and stabbed her and then shot her several times, the final shot aimed at her head.

The alleged gunman has been named locally as Tommy Mair, 52, who neighbours in Birstall have described as “a loner”.

He was arrested near the scene soon after the attack.

The MP’s husband Brendan 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.

A two-minute silence will be held in memory of Jo Cox during by-election count https://t.co/DReJ118Pwz pic.twitter.com/l3bq71mi8v

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) June 16, 2016

“Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it everyday 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.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the country would be “in shock at the horrific murder” of the MP, who was a “much loved colleague”.

The killing shocked Westminster and led to the suspension of EU campaigning.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The death of Jo Cox is a tragedy. She was a committed and caring MP. My thoughts are with her husband Brendan and her two young children.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny led condolences on the death of Ms Cox yesterday describing it as appalling. He will still attend a breakfast event in Manchester today nut will not canvass on Brexit.

Sinn Féin’s Seán Crowe said Ms Cox had a “deep commitment to humanitarian issues” having worked for Oxfam and anti-slavery charity the Freedom Fund before being elected in 2015.

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