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Jo Cox MP to be remembered at Birstall church services | Jo Cox MP to be remembered at Birstall church services |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Services are being held to remember Jo Cox MP who was killed on Thursday. | Services are being held to remember Jo Cox MP who was killed on Thursday. |
The services at St Peter's Church, Birstall - in Mrs Cox's constituency - come as a memorial fund set up in her name topped £600,000. | |
Murder suspect Thomas Mair appeared before magistrates on Saturday, where he gave his name as "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain". | |
Meanwhile, MPs from across the political divide have continued to pay tribute to the Labour backbencher. | Meanwhile, MPs from across the political divide have continued to pay tribute to the Labour backbencher. |
Parliament will be recalled on Monday and the Leader of the House of Commons, Chris Grayling, said: "Conventional party politics should be a million miles away." | |
He added he would support the idea that MPs should not sit in their usual party groups during the session. | |
On Saturday, Mrs Cox's sister Kim Leadbeater called on people to "focus on that which unites us and not which divides us". | |
At the memorial service, the Reverend Paul Knight, vicar at St Peter's Anglican church, told the congregation Mrs Cox was a "fervent advocate for the poor and the oppressed." | |
"Her humanity was powerful and compelling and we would do well to recognise her as an amazing example, a 21st Century Good Samaritan," he said. | "Her humanity was powerful and compelling and we would do well to recognise her as an amazing example, a 21st Century Good Samaritan," he said. |
Earlier, Justice Secretary Michael Gove said Mrs Cox had been the sort of person we would "want our daughters to grow up to be". | |
Talking on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, he recalled meeting Mrs Cox shortly after she was elected last year. | |
"I was fortunate enough to meet her in the same queue in the Commons tea room," he said. "She had forgotten her cash so I lent her a five pound note." | |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also spoke on the show and described his impression of the strong community spirit in Birstall. | |
"What struck me was the unity of the crowd, all ethnic groups, everybody there together, totally shocked and in grief at what happened," he said. | "What struck me was the unity of the crowd, all ethnic groups, everybody there together, totally shocked and in grief at what happened," he said. |
His words echoed comments made by Ms Leadbeater when she and Mrs Cox's parents, Gordon and Jean, visited the village on Saturday and thanked gathered crowds for their support. | |
Reading a statement in the market square, she described the MP as "perfect". | |
'Brave person' | 'Brave person' |
The tributes paid to her sister had "genuinely made a difference", she said, and helped the family through some "dark times". | The tributes paid to her sister had "genuinely made a difference", she said, and helped the family through some "dark times". |
"I could not watch the overwhelming outpouring of love without speaking on behalf of Jo," she said. | "I could not watch the overwhelming outpouring of love without speaking on behalf of Jo," she said. |
"She will live on through good people in the world." | "She will live on through good people in the world." |
At the services, tributes were also paid to Bernard Kenny, the 77-year-old man who was injured as he came to the MP's aid on Thursday. He remains in a stable condition in hospital. | |
"I think he has been a very brave person," Mr Knight said. | "I think he has been a very brave person," Mr Knight said. |
Mrs Cox, who was married with two children, was about to attend a constituency surgery when she was killed. | Mrs Cox, who was married with two children, was about to attend a constituency surgery when she was killed. |
As the church services took place her husband, Brendan, tweeted: "Jo loved camping. Last night the kids & I camped in her memory & remembered the last time we were all woken by the dawn chorus." | As the church services took place her husband, Brendan, tweeted: "Jo loved camping. Last night the kids & I camped in her memory & remembered the last time we were all woken by the dawn chorus." |
Mr Mair, 52, from Birstall, faces charges of murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon. | Mr Mair, 52, from Birstall, faces charges of murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon. |
The defendant refused to give his correct name and did not reply when asked to confirm his address and date of birth at Westminster Magistrates' Court. | |
He did not enter a plea and is next due to appear for a bail application hearing at the Old Bailey on Monday. | He did not enter a plea and is next due to appear for a bail application hearing at the Old Bailey on Monday. |
The funds donated by well-wishers will support three causes Mr Cox said were close to his wife's heart, and include the The Royal Voluntary Service, HOPE not hate and The White Helmets. | |