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Jo Cox: suspect 'bought gun manuals from neo-Nazis' – latest news Jo Cox death: Corbyn and Cameron in joint event at scene – latest news
(35 minutes later)
1.17pm BST
13:17
In the House of Commons there will be a vigil in memory of Jo Cox by the Speaker’s chaplain, the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft at 7pm. The vigil outside in Parliament Square will start at 7.30pm, so that MPs can attend after the Commons one is over.
1.14pm BST
13:14
Martin Kettle
There’s talk of parliament being recalled to have tributes to Jo Cox next Monday. When the Brighton bomb went off on October 12 1984, parliament was not recalled, even though it was an assassination attempt on the prime minister and an MP was killed. When parliament resumed on 22 October, ten days later, there was a statement on the bombing by the home secretary (Leon Brittan) which lasted for only 20 minutes.
Ian Gow, who was the last MP to be killed, died on 30 July 1990. Parliament had gone down four days previously. Parliament was not recalled. Parliament next sat on 6 September (recall to discuss the Gulf war). Gow’s death was announced by the Speaker. There were no speeches of any kind.
Grant Shapps has proposed that the main parties give Labour a free run in the byelection and the Conservatives have said they will not put up a candidate. This didn’t happen in the byelections of 1984 and 1990 caused by the deaths above. There was some talk about it in the Enfield Southgate byelection of 1984, but a normal context went ahead and Michael Portillo won. Indeed the Liberal Democrats won the Eastboruner byelection after Ian Gow’s death.Times have changed in all sorts of ways.
1.09pm BST
13:09
Here’s our story about David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn making a joint appearance in Batley and Spen later to pay tribute to Jo Cox.
Related: David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn to pay joint tribute to Jo Cox
John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, is also due to appear alongside Cameron and Corbyn, the Press Association reports.
1.02pm BST
13:02
According to the BBC, the Conservatives have decided not to put up a candidate in the byelection that will take place in Batley and Spen following the death of Jo Cox.
*** BREAKING *** Conservative Party will NOT contest by-election in Batley and Spen after death of MP @Jo_Cox1
Grant Shapps, the former Conservative co-chairman, proposed this option earlier today. (See 10.47am.)
12.48pm BST
12:48
Steven Morris
A man has been charged by police over an abusive phone call made to the Westminster office of the Labour MP for Exeter, Ben Bradshaw, writes Steven Morris.
It is unclear when the message was left but it was heard on the day before MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed.
Devon and Cornwall police said: “An abusive phone call to MP Ben Bradshaw was recorded on his parliamentary office answering machine and heard on Wednesday.
“The office informed parliamentary police and Devon and Cornwall police. A 37-year-old male from Exeter has been charged under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and bailed to appear before Exeter magistrates.”
After the news of the attack on Cox emerged, Bradshaw tweeted: “Absolutely ghastly news about my lovely colleague Jo Cox. Thoughts & prayers for her & her loved ones.”
12.48pm BST
12:48
Parliament set to be recalled to allow MPs to pay tribute to Jo Cox
Andrew Sparrow
This is from Huffington Post’s Paul Waugh.
Announcement due very soon on a possible recall of Parliament as a mark of respect for Jo Cox
I’m told it is now almost certain that parliament will be recalled to allow MPs to pay tribute to Jo Cox, probably on Monday afternoon.
David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn are due to appear together in Batley and Spen, and may say more about it then.
Updated
at 1.06pm BST
12.40pm BST12.40pm BST
12:4012:40
Here’s a subtitled version of Angela Merkel condemning the murder of Jo Cox and claiming it was not linked to the EU referendum.Here’s a subtitled version of Angela Merkel condemning the murder of Jo Cox and claiming it was not linked to the EU referendum.
12.39pm BST12.39pm BST
12:3912:39
Number 10 are not saying any more about David Cameron’s visit to Batley and Spen, although we are expected to see him in the constituency paying tribute to Jo Cox later today.Number 10 are not saying any more about David Cameron’s visit to Batley and Spen, although we are expected to see him in the constituency paying tribute to Jo Cox later today.
Jeremy Corbyn will be in the constituency too.Jeremy Corbyn will be in the constituency too.
This raises the possibility that they may decide to do a joint event together. Corbyn has refused to share a platform with Cameron in the EU referendum campaign, but the case for making a joint stand together on this issue would be very different. But Downing Street and Corbyn’s office are not saying anything, and so they may speak separately.This raises the possibility that they may decide to do a joint event together. Corbyn has refused to share a platform with Cameron in the EU referendum campaign, but the case for making a joint stand together on this issue would be very different. But Downing Street and Corbyn’s office are not saying anything, and so they may speak separately.
12.38pm BST12.38pm BST
12:3812:38
Canadian MPs held a minute’s silence for Jo Cox.Canadian MPs held a minute’s silence for Jo Cox.
12.25pm BST12.25pm BST
12:2512:25
David Cameron is going to Batley and Spen today to pay his respects to Jo Cox, the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn reports.David Cameron is going to Batley and Spen today to pay his respects to Jo Cox, the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn reports.
David Cameron is on his way to Batley and Spen now to pay his respects to #JoCox.David Cameron is on his way to Batley and Spen now to pay his respects to #JoCox.
12.20pm BST12.20pm BST
12:2012:20
Vigils in honour of Jo Cox planned for all over UKVigils in honour of Jo Cox planned for all over UK
Andrew SparrowAndrew Sparrow
A vigil in honour of Jo Cox is being planned for Parliament Square in London at 7.30pm tonight. There are more details on this Facebook post.A vigil in honour of Jo Cox is being planned for Parliament Square in London at 7.30pm tonight. There are more details on this Facebook post.
Another is being planned in Edinburgh for 6.30pm.Another is being planned in Edinburgh for 6.30pm.
In Manchester there will be a vigil at 7pm.In Manchester there will be a vigil at 7pm.
Birmingham is holding one at 7pm too.Birmingham is holding one at 7pm too.
As is Brighton.As is Brighton.
And Glasgow, also at 7pm.And Glasgow, also at 7pm.
Peterborough is holding one earlier – at 4.30pm.Peterborough is holding one earlier – at 4.30pm.
In Cardiff the vigil will take place at 6pm.In Cardiff the vigil will take place at 6pm.
**CORRECTION** The Vigil in memory of Jo Cox will begin at 6pm this evening at the Senedd followed by speeches at 6:30pm.**CORRECTION** The Vigil in memory of Jo Cox will begin at 6pm this evening at the Senedd followed by speeches at 6:30pm.
And Belfast is holding one about now.And Belfast is holding one about now.
These are the ones I’m aware of. But I will update this list as I hear of more. If you are aware of one that I have not mentioned yet, do email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.comThese are the ones I’m aware of. But I will update this list as I hear of more. If you are aware of one that I have not mentioned yet, do email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.22pm BSTat 12.22pm BST
12.03pm BST
12:03
This is from the American embassy.
"We are shocked & appalled that a member of the UK Parliament, Ms Jo Cox, was murdered while doing her public duty." https://t.co/ZvlgAEOU3v
12.01pm BST
12:01
Justine Greening, the international development secretary, has been among those paying tribute to Jo Cox at Parliament Square. She was close to tears as she told Sky News:
We worked very closely together on Syria, and the air drops, and she was just a lovely person, so I just wanted to come down and show my respect. She obviously served her local community with real dedication. She’s like many of us; she came here because she had a real vocation. It is just absolutely devastating what’s happened to her.
Updated
at 12.10pm BST
11.54am BST
11:54
Matthew Weaver
“We have lost one of us,” said Mike Cook, the headteacher of Heckmondwike grammar school where Jo Cox was head girl.
Speaking to the Guardian he said:
She visited the school just a year ago and she was, as everyone describes, full of life, full of compassion, and determination to do the best she possibly could for the people that she represented.
We have had a special assembly this morning and special prayers for Jo and her family. I was reminding them of how she was just doing her job, representing the local people and representing us.
The school is grieving collectively for Jo and there’s a very strong sense of community in our school. Although Jo was 41 and the oldest children in our school are 18, they clearly consider that we have lost one of us. One of our community, a local girl, [who] made the most of all the opportunities that the school presented in her time here. Just as the current crop do. There is a sombre mood, filled with respect for everything that Jo has achieved. Deeply saddened that she won’t be able to carry on making that impact that she had clearly begun to do. There is a very, very low mood in school today.
In a statement Cook added:
She was head girl and went on to Pembroke College, Cambridge, and continued to make an impact everywhere she went.
The school community would like to add its tributes to those of so many others at this extraordinarily sad time. Jo exemplified and embodied all the school’s values and we are very proud of our association with her.
The expressions of grief and admiration reflect the Jo we knew and respected. Driven by a deep urge to do what is right, and to stand up for the disadvantaged and those in our world least able to represent themselves, Jo gave a voice to the powerless.
She did so with great compassion and tireless determination, and she did so peacefully. Clearly, therefore, we considered her a shining example to subsequent cohorts of students.
She had already made a difference in her political career and we are truly saddened that her brilliant contribution has been foreshortened in this shocking and cruel manner.
Special prayers have been said in school today for Jo, and for the family and friends she leaves behind, and our thoughts are with Brendan and their two children especially.
Updated
at 12.13pm BST
11.50am BST
11:50
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, is due to visit Birstall, where Jo Cox was killed, later today to pay tribute.
11.35am BST
11:35
Stephen Timms, the Labour MP who was stabbed in the stomach in his constituency surgery in 2010, told BBC News that parliamentarians would not want to make themselves less accessible in response to the killing of Jo Cox. He said that perhaps some security measures for MPs could be improved, but that they would not want to cut themselves off from the public.
What none of us would want is a big change in the culture of our country which would make it much harder for people to get to speak to, get to meet their MPs. After I was attacked the police did say to me: ‘Would you like a metal detector on the way into the surgery?’ But the problem with that is that it would make going to see your MP a pretty unpleasant experience. And none of us want that to happen.
Updated
at 12.17pm BST
11.18am BST
11:18
Helen Pidd
At the Yorkshire Shooting Centre in Mirfield, six miles away from Birstall, staff said Thomas Mair was not a customer, our Northern editor Helen Pidd reports.
A worker called Andy said: “He’s not known to us. We checked all our records and we don’t know him. He’s not been at the shooting range or bought guns or ammunition from us.
“It’s not easy to possess a firearm: it’s probably easier to buy one on the black market than to do it legally. It seems this is an unfortunate isolated incident.”
11.15am BST
11:15
Matthew Weaver
The Metropolitan police have confirmed that a man was arrested in March after Cox complained about abusive messages. The man arrested was not Thomas Mair.
In a statement Scotland Yard said:
Officers received an allegation of malicious communications from Jo Cox MP, and in March 2016 arrested a man in connection with the investigation.
The man subsequently accepted a police caution.
The man who accepted the police caution is not the man in custody in West Yorkshire.
Updated
at 11.19am BST
11.12am BST
11:12
After winning the Tooting byelection for Labour on Thursday, Rosena Allin-Khan paid tribute to Jo Cox instead of making a victory speech. Here’s video of her remarks:
11.10am BST
11:10
Here is Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, commenting on the killing of Jo Cox.
In Berlin German Chancellor #Merkel called #JoCox's death "terrible and dramatic". pic.twitter.com/QgI0qc5bl6
11.05am BST
11:05
Mair 'bought homemade gun guide from neo-Nazi group'
The man arrested over the killing of the MP Jo Cox bought books from a US-based neo-Nazi group, including guides on how to build homemade guns and explosives, according an anti-hate campaign group in the US, Matthew Weaver and Nicky Woolf report.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) published receipts that appeared to show Thomas Mair bought, among other books, a manual on how to make a homemade pistol from the National Alliance.
The receipts, some of which date back to the 1990s, showed Mair spent more than $620 (£436) on literature from the group, which advocates the creation of an all-white homeland and the eradication of Jewish people.
He bought books that instructed readers on the “chemistry of powder & explosives”, “incendiaries”, and a work called Improvised Munitions Handbook. The handbook included detailed instructions on constructing a pipe pistol using parts available in DIY stores.
Receipted items also included Ich Kampfe, an illustrated handbook issued to members of the Nazi party in 1942.
Related: Jo Cox suspect bought gun manuals from US neo-Nazis, group claims
Updated
at 12.17pm BST