Buckingham Palace has announced that The Queen will write a private letter to the widower of British MP Jo Cox, who was murdered on Thursday afternoon..
Her Majesty’s letter to the family comes after 41-year-old politician, Jo Cox, MP for Batley and Spen, was fatally shot and stabbed in the street whilst visiting her constituents.
Campaigning in the EU referendum has been suspended in the UK until Saturday at the earliest with the Union Jack flying at half mast on government buildings. The BBC has also canceled political programming.
Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to Ms Cox, saying: “The death of Jo Cox is a tragedy. She was a committed and caring MP. My thoughts are with her husband Brendan and her two young children.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that the country would be “in shock at the horrific murder”, describing the young politician as a “much loved colleague”.
He said: “Jo died doing her public duty at the heart of our democracy, listening to and representing the people she was elected to serve.
“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.”
Her husband Brendan Cox said: “she would have wanted our children to be bathed in love and that we fight against hatred that killed her.”
Jo Cox MP was a relatively new MP, having been elected in her constituency of Batley and Spen in the 2015 General Election.
She is the first sitting MP to be killed in office since 1990, when Ian Gow died as a result of Northern Irish terror groups.
My condolences to the family and friends of Jo Cox MP. Also to her fellow MPs on both sides of the aisle.