Friends and colleagues of Jo Cox break down at scene of fatal shooting as they pay tribute to the ‘rising star’ who was stabbed seven times in the street
'Jo died doing the job she loved, in the place she loved, representing the people she loved," says friend Rachel Reeves MP
FRIENDS heartbroken over the death of MP Jo Cox have broken down in tears as they visit the spot where the mum-of-two was gunned down in broad daylight.
Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West, says the community is "numb and angry" that someone with so much to give could be taken away so violently.
Mrs Cox, 41, shot three times and stabbed at least seven times as she lay dying in the street.
"This is such a normal place," said MP Rachel Reeves as she paid tribute to her friend in Birstall, near Leeds.
"The sort of street that is recognisable in any part.
"To think that such a horrific and violent crime took place against such a wonderful woman..there is a sense of numbness, not being able to believe what has happened
"And anger that someone could take away someone who had so much to give.
Jo died doing the job she loved, in the place she loved, representing the people she loved.
Rachel Reeves MP
"There is also grief and sorrow at the death of a mother, wife, daughter and a friend to many of us."
Hundreds of flowers and cards have been scattered at the scene where the 41-year-old MP was brutally murdered.
Tommy Mair, a mentally ill loner, is in police custody after tragic MP Jo Cox was shot in the head three times and stabbed repeatedly with a foot-long knife.
She was dragged to the floor by her hair and then gunned down at point-blank range by a man armed with an antique pistol.
Emma Warrillow has been pictured laying flowers at the scene of Mrs Cox's murder in Birstall.
The young girl wrote a touching tribute to her friend which said: "Thank you Jo for everything you have done for me.
"I hope you're looking down on me on the 15th of July when I get my Prince Diana award.
"I'll collect it in your memory.
"Lots of love Emily."
It has been revealed cops were in the process of boosting security for MP Jo Cox in the months leading up to her murder.
She had reported receiving a series of persistent harassing messages to police.
Tributes to "our dear Jo" were laid at the foot of the Joseph Priestley statue in Birstall town centre.
In other tributes, a message from someone called Liam read: "I'm so sorry you are no longer with us - my heart breaks for your children.
"So many of your constituents are proud to have called you their MP.
"Our whole country is hurting right now.
"May your dedication and service be never forgotten. Love to your friends and family."
One card simply said: "Why?"
Followed by: "You lived for others - you will not die in vain."
Another A4 piece of paper read: "Love wins."
Prime Minister David Cameron who called Jo Cox a "great star" travelled to Batley and Spen today to pay his respects.
He was joined by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, Commons Speaker John Bercow, MP Hilary Benn and Tory business secretary Sajid Sajid.
Mr Cameron said: “Two children have lost their mother and a husband has lost his loving wife.
“Parliament has lost one of its most passionate campaigners and the nation is shocked.
“Today our nation is rightly shocked and I think it is a moment to stand back and think about some of the things that are so important about our country.
"The fact that we should treasure and value our democracy, where members of parliament are out in the public, accountable to the public and available to the public and that’s how Jo died.
"She died doing her job.”
Appearing on ITV’s This Morning earlier today former Labour leader Ed Miliband was asked what kind of person Jo Cox was.
He replied: “A friend of hers said to me last night, how can something so bad happen to someone so good and that’s what I feel.
“I think you get a sense from those interviews, Jo was somebody who loved life, who was passionate about her causes – you know well before she got into Parliament she was an international aid worker.
“She worked for Oxfam, she advanced things she believed in and that’s what took her into politics, not for being an MP, not getting up the greasy pole or anything like that, because she wanted to find a different way of advancing those causes."
He added: “Her approach was that she was passionate about her causes but she could disagree without being disagreeable.“She disagreed with people, she took stands, she was fearless but she was friendly as well and I think you know politics looked very small yesterday.
“It’s a terrible, terrible irony that that fate befell her just going about her duty, doing her job as MPs do, day in and day out.”
Speaking of her friend Jo at the scene today, Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves said: "She came to shadow me one day in my constituency office when she was thinking about becoming an MP.
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#thankyourMP
Thousands of social media users responded to the death of Jo Cox by paying tribute to the hard work of their own MP using the Twitter hashtag #thankyourmp.
More than 10,000 messages were sent by the morning after Mrs Cox's death, with frequency peaking at 38 tweets per minute at one point.
Among the thousands of tweets were many from constituents saying they disagreed with their MPs' political views but appreciated the work they did.
In a message to Guildford MP Anne Milton, @DonaHilaria wrote: "I do not support the party you represent but I do know the work you do for the community and respect you for it."
Twitter user @ZackPolanski wrote of Holborn and St Pancras MP Sir Keir Starmer: "We had many a disagreement during hustings but he's fundamentally a kind, thoughtful gentleman doing a good job."
Meanwhile, @tom_large thanked his constituency MP Rushanara Ali for the work she does in Bethnal Green and Bow, as well as his parents' MP in the Cotswolds, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, with the message: "Democracy works."
Barbara Keeley, the Labour MP for Worsley and Eccles South, sent out a message to the hashtag's users: "Thank you for all the #ThankYourMP Tweets. It is heartening to get these messages at such a difficult time."
"By the end of the day no-one knew who was the MP and who was shadowing - she was just superb. She had such a way with people, really able to connect.
"She was brilliant and had a big relationship with her constituents.
"The reason why she was loved is because she really representing her constituents and had a great relationship them."
She added: "When Jo spoke in the House of Commons everyone would listen.
"She would always speak with such knowledge, passion and commitment.
"She will be hugely missed in parliament but obviously here in Batley as well.
"Jo died doing the job she loved, in the place she loved, representing the people she loved."
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has paid tribute to Jo Cox, who, before entering parliament, worked for the organisation as a strategy consultant.
Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: "
"Jo was passionate about helping children and families who face adversity. She had a great understanding of the problems young people face and was totally committed to changing things to improve their lives.
"Jo impressed everyone with her ceaseless drive, determination and above all compassion during her time working at the NSPCC as a strategy consultant.
";Our thoughts are with her family and friends who must be absolutely devastated by her tragic death."
Many said Mrs Cox wasn't the kind of person who worried about her safety but her office had persuaded her to get extra security.
It had been delayed because of the "usual bureaucratic reasons", they said.
Rachel added: "She wouldn't be an MP to lock herself away in Westminster - she would serve her constituents.
"And we should not let the actions of one man - whatever his motives drive a wedge between MPs and the constituents who elected them.
"As a mother myself, I am conscience of my own safety but I still need to serve my constituents.
"I for one don't want to isolate myself from my continents who elected me."
A tearful Canadian MP broke down yesterday as he paid tribute to his friend Jo Cox in an emotional statement to Parliament.
Nathan Cullen described the slain mother-of-two as a dedicated MP and a powerful advocate of human rights across the globe.
He said: “Jo used her voice for those who have none.
“She dedicated her passion to those who needed it most and she harnessed her limitless love, even and especially for those who allowed hate to consume them.”
His voice cracking up, he paused before composing himself to pay tribute to the 41-year-old.
Mr Cullen, the MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, said: "Her husband Brendan said it beautifully: 'She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, that our children are bathed in love and that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her.'
"To Brendan, to Jo's beautiful children, we express our deepest condolences."
Former Labour leader Lord Kinnock has spoken of his grief at the death of his friend he treated as a "beloved niece."
Emotional Lord Kinnock told the BBC it was like a "death in the family".
He said: "Our family, the Labour family, the family of Batley and Spen because that's the kind of feeling and response she nourished.
"She was a woman of huge intelligence who sparkled."
Mrs Cox's beloved husband Brendan released a statement just hours after her tragic death urging people to "fight against the hatred that killed her."
The day before she died, Mr and Mrs Cox took part in the battle of the Thames with their two children who are aged just three and five years old.
Mr Cox said: "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."
A London neighbour of Jo Cox said her husband was "in bits" following the horrific killing.
The small boating community in Wapping is in mourning for the 41-year-old who was gunned down yesterday afternoon in West Yorkshire while meeting constituents.
Houseboats burnt their horns out sounding a two minute tribute to MP Jo Cox last night.
Candles were lit along the gangway down to the jetty and hundred of flowers and pictures were placed on the vessel the the mum-of-two shared with her husband, Brendan.
Anne Wainwright chair of the Heritage Moorings said: "I spoke to Jo's husband Brendan last night and we've exchanged some messages.
"He's obviously in bits, I can't imagine what he's going through. And her parents as well, it's so terrible, we're in such shock.
"I'm not sure when her family are coming back but when Brendan comes back we'll talk about any further tributes as a community."
Just last year Labour's rising star achieved her "dream" of representing her hometown in Westminster.
But the talented politician's life was cut tragically short yesterday.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "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.
"Jo was dedicated to getting us to live up to our promises to support the developing world and strengthen human rights - and she brought those values and principles with her when she became an MP.
"Jo died doing her public duty at the heart of our democracy, listening to and representing the people she was elected to serve. It is a profoundly important cause for us all.
"In the coming days, there will be questions to answer about how and why she died. But for now all our thoughts are with Jo's husband Brendan and their two young children.
"They will grow up without their mum, but can be immensely proud of what she did, what she achieved and what she stood for.
"We send them our deepest condolences. 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."