Jo Cox death: MP’s husband Brendan Cox says wife was ‘killed by hate’

'I and Jo's friends and family are going to work to fight against the hate that killed Jo'

(PA)

The husband of murdered MP Jo Cox has called on people to “fight against the hatred that killed her”.

Ms Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, died after being shot and stabbed outside of a library in her constituency in Birstall, west Yorkshire near to where she held her weekly surgery.

The 41-year-old was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary. Her death was confirmed by West Yorkshire Police in a press conference this afternoon.

In a statement, Brendan Cox 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."

Ms Cox, the former head of humanitarian campaigning at Oxfam, met her husband Brendan, a former executive at Save the Children, while they were both working in the aid industry. He was Gordon Brown’s adviser on international development when he was Prime Minister.

Temporary chief constable for West Yorkshire Dee Collins told the news conference on Thursday: “I am now very sad to have to report that she has died as a result of her injuries.

“At 1.48pm Jo Cox was pronounced deceased by a doctor who was working with a paramedic crew that were attending to her serious injuries."

Born in Batley, Ms Cox went on to study at Cambridge University, graduating in 1995. She was the first out of her family to graduate from university.

A former aid worker, she campaigned in economically deprived and war-torn countries across the world on issues such as discrimination and poverty.

A rising star within the Labour party, Ms Cox had been in Parliament for just over a year but there was already talk of her having a future as a minister.

She lived on a boat moored in Wapping, London and split her time between there and her constituency. Ms Cox was praised as a dedicated MP and tireless campaigner locally, nationally and internationally.

Politicians on all sides have paid tribute to the popular MP and both sides of the EU referendum debate have abandoned campaigning for the day.

“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,” the Labour Party said in a statement.

“Jo died doing her public duty at the heart of our democracy, listening to and representing the people she was elected to serve.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "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.”

Prime Minister David Cameron said Cox's death was a "tragedy" and said his thoughts were with her family.

Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Cox was one of the "liveliest, bravest and most passionate MPs".

The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, said her heart breaks for Cox's family.