David Jagger and Jo Winrow

Telegraph & Argus

BIRSTALL, England — Flags were lowered to half mast and public books of condolence were opened at town halls across this area Friday as a mark of respect to slain British politician Jo Cox.

The member of Parliament and mother of two young children died after being shot and stabbed in Market Street, Birstall, on Thursday afternoon.

The Right Rev Jonathan Gibbs, Bishop of the nearby city of Huddersfield, was at the scene of the attack on Friday.

"I think yesterday was a day of huge shock and it was really important for the community to come together. Today is a huge day of sadness, and many people will just want to grieve privately," he said.

"The amount of flowers left as a tribute show how much (she) means to the community; when you speak to local people you just have to look at their faces. She was well liked and held in great affection."

Adrian Lythgo, the leader of Kirklees council that oversees Birstall, said Cox was as an important influence on the area and a force for good for her constituents.

“We always knew that so many people had great respect for Jo, and how influential she was in conversations and in debate. But that has only been reinforced by the reaction to her tragic death," he said. “(Labour) Party colleagues and opposition members have all been united in their shock and sadness at what would have been a stellar career cut short in the worst way.”

Lythgo added: “MPs always have great strength of feeling for their constituencies, but there is a bigger picture and context to decision making and Jo certainly had that. She is rightly credited across both benches in Parliament for her work on the refugee crisis and on international aid. She was a huge public servant."

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Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of neighboring Bradford Council, said: "I am shocked and upset to hear such awful news," adding: "But of course I feel particularly for her young children and husband who have been deprived of a loving mother and wife.

Zulfi Karim, secretary of Bradford Council for Mosques, added also paid tribute to Cox.

"Our heartfelt condolences go to her husband and young children. In this hour of grief we stand united with them," he said.

Parts of Birstall remained closed Friday. The library, where Cox was meeting with constituents when she was attacked, remains shuttered.

“Such an attack could have happened to any MP or elected public servant anywhere in the country, but it is obviously a source of great sadness that this savage attack occurred in our ward and indeed in the peaceful and busy village of Birstall," said Robert Light, a local politician.

Anne Craven, of Birstall, said: "It's just unbelievable, I'm devastated, nothing has ever happened in Birstall like this before. I met her last year when she was campaigning and she came to my doorstep, and she didn't look anything like a normal politician, just a normal person. She left a great impression on me, she was someone who would listen to you and was concerned about local people."

A special mention was made to Cox during a candlelit vigil in Bradford late Thursday to remember the members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community who were murdered in Orlando on Sunday.

Contributing: Vivien Mason

