Labour's Tracy Brabin has won a by-election in Batley and Spen, replacing MP Jo Cox who was killed in June.

The former Coronation Street actress held the seat for Labour with a comfortable 82% of the vote after the Conservatives, Lib Dems and UKIP decided not to put up candidates in a mark of respect to the late MP.

Ms Brabin paid tribute to Jo Cox in her victory speech, saying her win was "bittersweet".

"This has been a difficult experience for all of us and tonight is a bittersweet occasion for me. That this by-election has had to take place at all is a tragedy," she said.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Our sorely-missed friend and colleague Jo Cox would be proud of Tracy, a wonderful campaigner and now Labour's new MP for Batley and Spen."


Ms Brabin finished ahead of English Democrat Therese Hirst and eight other independent and fringe party candidates, including representatives of the far-right National Front and BNP.

Her acceptance speech was marred by occasional heckles from the crowd.

Moments after coming off the stage, she told Sky News she would "rise above it".

Image: Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in her constituency in West Yorkshire

Mrs Cox was killed in her constituency, just days before the EU referendum.

As she left a library in the Leeds village of Birstall she was shot and stabbed to death.

The community has tried to move on from the tragedy.

Rev Roger Smith from the Birstall Methodist Church said the people would never forget what happened.

"I don't think you overcome such a traumatic event in such a few weeks and months. I think we will live with this for a long time.

"The town came together during that time and whilst it may not be spoken about every day it is something that they will never forget. Jo was a special person and we will not let hatred win."

My love @MrBrendanCox & I discussing the future before we knew the result on GE night. It feels a lifetime ago. pic.twitter.com/CTQNED6N9T — Jo Cox MP (@Jo_Cox1) May 9, 2015

Restaurant owner Hichem Ben Abdullah was working around the corner when Mrs Cox was attacked.

"You don't hear people talking about it. But there is a scar that is slowly beginning to heal. We had an MP who stood up for local issues and she was taken away from us, but we are a stronger community for it."

Mrs Cox's widower Brendan congratulated Ms Brabin on her victory.

He tweeted: "Well done @Tracy4MP & great to see all the purveyors of hate lose their deposits."

After the result, Mr Cox also tweeted a picture of him and his wife at the 2015 general election count.

He said: "This was Jo at the general election count last year as I briefed her on the numbers. She was calm, serene and full of grace that night."

The vote coincided with another by-election in Witney, Oxfordshire, to replace former Prime Minister David Cameron who gave up the seat last month.