
Local MPs and political figures have said of their shock and sadness after a Labour MP was murdered in her constituency this afternoon.
The Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox aged 41, died after reportedly being shot and stabbed while in the street outside the local library in the small village of Birstall, near Leeds.
A 52-year-old man was arrested nearby.
Politicians including David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn have been paying tribute to the well liked MP.
Telford & Wrekin Council will tomorrow morning lower their flag as a mark of respect.
Local Shropshire political figures have also expressed their respects via twitter.
Owen Patterson is the Conservative MP for North Shropshire.
Stunned Jo Cox has now died. Utterly senseless waste of a talented young MP with a great future. Thoughts with her husband & young children.
— Owen Paterson MP (@Owen_PatersonMP) June 16, 2016
Shaun Davies is the Labour Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council
An MP doing her job, killed on a British Street – our country is and forever will be poorer
— Shaun Davies (@CllrShaunDavies) June 16, 2016
Lucy Allan, MP for Telford, expressed her sympathy in a post on her website:
Devastating news about Jo Cox. What has become of politics? https://t.co/82OZYjWZmK
— Lucy Allan MP (@lucyallan) June 16, 2016
Mark Pritchard is MP for the Wrekin
Tragic tragic news about Jo Cox. Thoughts and prayers with her husband, young children & family. RIP Jo. You were a person of great humanity
— Mark Pritchard (@MPritchardMP) June 16, 2016
Philip Dunne is Member of Parliament for Ludlow
Utterly appalled to learn of tragedy befalling Jo Cox MP. Thoughts and prayers with her family. She was an intelligent, diligent, democrat.
— Philip Dunne (@Dunne4Ludlow) June 16, 2016
Daniel Kawczynski is the MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham
Saddened and shocked to hear of the murder of my respected colleague Jo Cox. Rest in Peace. Thoughts with her husband and two children
— Daniel Kawczynski MP (@KawczynskiMP) June 16, 2016
Helen Joanne Cox was a newly elected Labour MP for the constituency of Batley and Spenfter after winning her seat in last year’s general election, she was due to celebrate her 42nd birthday in just a few days time, on the 22 June.