This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36572968
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Jo Cox death: MPs return to Parliament to pay tribute | Jo Cox death: MPs return to Parliament to pay tribute |
(35 minutes later) | |
MPs and peers are paying tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox, who was killed in her constituency in West Yorkshire on Thursday. | MPs and peers are paying tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox, who was killed in her constituency in West Yorkshire on Thursday. |
Parliament, which was in recess for the EU referendum, has been recalled to remember Mrs Cox, 41, who was described as "perfect" by her family. | Parliament, which was in recess for the EU referendum, has been recalled to remember Mrs Cox, 41, who was described as "perfect" by her family. |
After the Commons and Lords tributes, politicians will attend a memorial service at St Margaret's Church. | After the Commons and Lords tributes, politicians will attend a memorial service at St Margaret's Church. |
Speaker John Bercow said they had gathered in "heartbreaking sadness". | |
As he led the tributes in a packed House of Commons, he said Mrs Cox had "outstanding qualities... she was caring, eloquent, principled and wise". | |
"Above all she was filled with and fuelled by love for humanity. Devoted to her family and a relentless campaigner for equality, human rights and social justice," he added. | |
Mr Bercow added: "An attack like this strikes not only at an individual, but at our freedom. That is why we assemble here, both to honour Jo and to redouble our dedication to democracy." | |
Mrs Cox's husband, Brendan, and their two children were in the public gallery to hear MPs' tributes, along with Mrs Cox's parents Jean and Gordon, sister Kim and other family members. | |
A white and a red rose were placed in Mrs Cox's usual place on the Labour benches. | |
Speaking next, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told MPs, who were wearing white roses in memory of Mrs Cox: "We have lost one of our own and society as a whole has lost one of our very best." | |
He said Mrs Cox - whose 42nd birthday would have been on Wednesday - had spent her life serving and campaigning "for other people" - at home and abroad - both in her charity work and as an MP. | |
He called her death as "an attack on democracy and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it... and was united in grief". | |
He appealed for "a kinder and gentler politics", saying politicians had a responsibility "not to whip up hatred or sow division". | |
In her honour, he said "we can come together to change our politics to tolerate a little more and condemn a little less". | |
Prime Minister David Cameron described Mrs Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen, as an "extraordinary colleague and friend", who was a humanitarian "to her core" who brought out "the best" in people. | |
"She was a voice of compassion, whose boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her and saved the lives of many she never met." | |
He said her killing was a "sickening and despicable" act and, like the speakers before him, offered condolences to her family. | |
Mr Cameron added: "We pay tribute to a loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician, who epitomised the best of humanity and proved so often the power of politics to make the world a better place." | |
Leading the tributes from the backbenches, Labour MP for Leeds West Rachel Reeves praised the way Mrs Cox could "relate to people from all walks of life". | |
She was "struck down much too soon", she said, and told MPs "it now falls on all of our shoulders to carry on Jo's work - to combat and guard against hatred, intolerance and injustice and serve others with dignity and love". | |
Ms Reeves added, to tears, that Batley and Spen would go on to elect a new MP, "but no one can replace a mother". | |
Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell said Mrs Cox was a "truly exceptional woman" whose "goodness and passionate dedication to humanitarian values has inspired us all." | |
He said she would not want her death to change the "open and accessible relationship" MPs enjoy with their constituents, but she would want the UK to redouble its efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis, which he called "the greatest catastrophe of our age". | |
It had been suggested that MPs from different parties might sit together when they appear in the Commons as a sign of unity. | It had been suggested that MPs from different parties might sit together when they appear in the Commons as a sign of unity. |
But BBC political correspondent Eleanor Garnier said it was understood friends of the MP on both sides of the Commons wanted to sit together with close party colleagues and normal seating arrangements would be maintained. | But BBC political correspondent Eleanor Garnier said it was understood friends of the MP on both sides of the Commons wanted to sit together with close party colleagues and normal seating arrangements would be maintained. |
A church service was held in Mrs Cox's Batley and Spen constituency on Sunday to remember her life. | A church service was held in Mrs Cox's Batley and Spen constituency on Sunday to remember her life. |
The mother of two was described during the service as a "21st Century Good Samaritan" and a "fervent advocate for the poor and the oppressed". | The mother of two was described during the service as a "21st Century Good Samaritan" and a "fervent advocate for the poor and the oppressed". |
On Saturday, Mrs Cox's sister Kim Leadbeater paid tribute to her "perfect" sister and thanked the community for their support, saying it had "genuinely made a difference" and helped the family through some "dark times". | On Saturday, Mrs Cox's sister Kim Leadbeater paid tribute to her "perfect" sister and thanked the community for their support, saying it had "genuinely made a difference" and helped the family through some "dark times". |
Friends of Mrs Cox have announced plans for a public event in Trafalgar Square in London on Wednesday - which would have been her 42nd birthday. | Friends of Mrs Cox have announced plans for a public event in Trafalgar Square in London on Wednesday - which would have been her 42nd birthday. |
There have also been calls for a memorial to be installed at Westminster to remember her, while a fund set up in her name has raised more than £800,000. | There have also been calls for a memorial to be installed at Westminster to remember her, while a fund set up in her name has raised more than £800,000. |
Mrs Cox is the first sitting MP to be killed since Conservative Ian Gow was blown up by the IRA in 1990, the last in a string of politicians to be murdered by Northern Irish terror groups. | Mrs Cox is the first sitting MP to be killed since Conservative Ian Gow was blown up by the IRA in 1990, the last in a string of politicians to be murdered by Northern Irish terror groups. |
Thomas 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 in connection with the attack on Mrs Cox. | Thomas 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 in connection with the attack on Mrs Cox. |
He refused to give his correct name and did not reply when asked to confirm his address and date of birth at an appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday. | He refused to give his correct name and did not reply when asked to confirm his address and date of birth at an appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday. |
When asked to confirm he was Thomas Mair at the Old Bailey on Monday, he replied: "Yes, I am." | When asked to confirm he was Thomas Mair at the Old Bailey on Monday, he replied: "Yes, I am." |
There was no application for bail and he was remanded in custody. He will appear at the same court for a preliminary hearing before Mr Justice Saunders at 10:00 BST on Thursday. | |