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The director of the Remain campaign has been accused of seeking to attack the Leave camp by “exploiting” the murder of Jo Cox.

A recording of Will Straw coaching pro-EU campaigners in a conference call and referring to the MP’s brutal murder has sparked uproar on social media.

Mr Straw, who says he was a close friend of Mrs Cox, says the Remain camp ought to criticise Brexit campaigners for “stirring division and resentment” in the wake of her death.

The tape was posted online by right-wing blog Guido Fawkes under the headline: “Will Straw ordered Remain to attack Leave over Jo Cox death.”

Mr Straw, son of former Labour cabinet minister Jack Straw, is the executive director of the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign.

In the leaked recording, he says: “We need to recognise that people have been pulled up short by Jo Cox’s death and it is now time to make a very positive case for why we want to be in the European Union… to call out the other side for what they have done to stir division and resentment in the UK.

“That is something we must all do… This is what we think is the closing argument of the campaign, reflecting all the arguments that we have been setting out for many months but also the new context that we’re in.

“What we want to say is people should vote Remain on Thursday for more jobs, lower prices, workers’ rights, stronger public services and a decent, tolerant United Kingdom.”

Critics have claimed Mr Straw was seeking to make political gain from the killing of the 41-year-old MP, who was shot and stabbed on Thursday.

Campaigning ahead of Thursday’s referendum was paused on all sides following her death before it resumed on Sunday.

Those attacking Mr Straw included Brexit supporters such as Suzanne Evans, former Ukip deputy chairwoman.

She tweeted: “Yes, they stooped that low. Don't let them win. #VoteLeave.”

Paul Joseph Watson said: “#VoteRemain campaign director (@wdjstraw) urges supporters to exploit murder of Jo Cox. Total disgrace. Resign now.”

Jason Brown, a Conservative activist, added: “As MPs pay tribute to Jo Cox in in the Commons Im appalled that @wdjstraw is using her death has as a campaign too.”

Britain Stronger In Europe insisted it would have been strange for Mr Straw not to reflect on this “awful crime”.

It said in a statement: “As a close personal friend of Jo Cox, Will Straw was reflecting on the changed circumstances following the tragic murder of an inspirational public servant.

“Unfortunately, everyone in this campaign – whether they are from the Remain or Leave camp – are now conducting the last few days of it in the shadow of that awful crime.

“Given that, it would have been strange for Will’s campaign call with volunteers to not reflect on the wider environment.”