Nigel Farage has admitted that Jo Cox’s murder could damage his campaign to pull Britain out of the European Union and claimed that he too had been a “victim” of political hatred.

The Ukip leader said that prior to Ms Cox’s murder, the Brexit campaign had “momentum” that may have been lost as a result of the killing.

He also described the murder as an act of “one man with serious mental health issues” that should not be allowed to influence the campaign.

Speaking to Peston on Sunday he said: “I think we had momentum before this terrible tragedy,” he said.

“When you are taking on the establishment you need to have momentum. I don’t know what’s going to happen over the next three or four days.

Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes and candles are placed by a picture of slain Labour MP Jo Cox at a vigil in Parliament square in London AFP Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes to Labour Party MP Jo Cox are placed on her houseboat in Wapping in London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures The Union flag at half-mast on top of Portcullis House in London after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (2R) and deputy leader Tom Watson (L) light candles as they attend a vigil to slain Labour MP Jo Cox in Parliament square in London AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader Tom Watson (rear) arrive to leave tributes at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People leave St Peter's Church after a vigil in memory of Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flowers left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminste, following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People react as they look at tributes left for Labour Member of Parliament Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A man writes a message at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People stop to look at tributes left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman arrives to lay flowers at a statue to Joseph Priestly in Birstall near to the scene where Labour MP Jo Cox was shot AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman places candles in tribute to Labour Party MP Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A member of the public signs a memorial for British MP Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London EPA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People sign messages of condolence for MP Jo Cox during a vigil in Parliament Square in London Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flags at half mast outside Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People arrive in Market Square with floral tributes after the death of Jo Co Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are placed in Market Square next to the statue of Joseph Priestley following the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are brought to the scene after the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A police officer carries bunches of flowers at the scene of the shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox in Birstall REUTERS

“It’s difficult to tell. But those who have made up their minds to leave – I think they will go out and vote.”

Mr Farage was also condemned by the Labour MP Yvette Cooper for suggesting that he had been a “victim” of hatred in politics.

Mr Farage denied that he was responsible for whipping up hate against immigrants and added: “I think I’ve been a politician that has been a victim of it [hatred] to be honest with you,” he said.

But Ms Cooper said: “Nigel Farage is still trying to whip up fear and hatred towards refugees who are fleeing from conflict. It was extremely ill-judged of him describe himself as a victim.”

Earlier, one of the Leave campaign leaders, Michael Gove, admitted he "shuddered” when he saw a controversial anti-migrant poster designed to convince voters to support Brexit.

The poster, depicting a line of desperate refugees trying to reach Europe, was launched by Mr Farage last week under the headline "Breaking Point".

It was widely condemned by the Remain campaign. But today even Mr Gove said the poster was entirely inappropriate as part of efforts to persuade voters to pull out of the EU..

Family pays tribute to Jo Cox

“When I saw that poster I shuddered,” he told The Andrew Marr Show. "I thought it was the wrong thing to do.”

However, Mr Gove went on to defend statements made by the Vote Leave campaign on the number of Turks who could come to the UK if we stayed in the EU.

He said such claims were justified on the grounds that it was British policy to support Turkey’s membership of the EU.

On the same programme the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also attacked the Ukip poster describing it as “appalling”. He said it showed the extent to which the “far right” had captured the Brexit campaign.

On Monday, MPs from different political parties could give up their tradition places in the House of Commons tomorrow in a show of unity in memory of Ms Cox.

Parliament is due to be recalled on Monday to allow MPs to pay tribute to the Labour MP, who was murdered outside a constituency surgery last week.

Under a plan being considered, MPs would not sit along normal party lines for the debate but instead spread around the chamber.

Jeremy Corbyn said he had heard the idea suggested and was interested in it. “I received that suggestion last night,” he told the Andrew Marr Show. “We’re thinking about that."

He added: “An MP dies and it is an attack on all of us. In her memory we have to create a more tolerant society.”