Lancaster MP: Jo Cox '˜always fought against the hate that killed her'
Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire, died on Thursday June 16, after she was shot and stabbed following a surgery in Birstall in her constituency.
Ms Smith said that “how any one person can stamp out the life of someone so lovely, is just impossible to comprehend”.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMrs Cox’s husband said the mother of two had fought for “a better world”.
Her attacker is reported to have shouted “put Britain first” at least twice. A 52-year-old man, named locally as Tommy Mair, has been arrested, the BBC has reported.
Ms Smith said: “Her life was cut short at 41 but she didn’t waste a day of it.
“She lived life to the full, and lived out the values that she campaigned for in Parliament.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“To stand up for human rights, the campaign on behalf of Syria and child refugees, and making sure we don’t forget about people who are suffering.
“Before she became an MP she worked for Oxfam and was passionate about international development and childrens’ human rights in war zones.
“She did a lot of work on human rights in Gaza.”
Ms Smith said she met Mrs Cox before they were both elected in 2015, as she was involved in the Labour Women’s Network.
She said: The 2015 intake formed a very tight social group outside of Parliament, and she was an integral part of that.
“She was very bubbly, five foot nothing and full of life.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“As MPs we often get threats made against us but nobody expected this.
“It’s just such a shock for everybody.
“We can’t speculate about why (it happened), because we just don’t know, but we will find out why, and what the motives were.
“How any one person can stamp out the life of someone so lovely, is just impossible to comprehend.
“There’s now a three-year-old and a five-year-old who have lost their mum.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“I hope they know as they grow up that their mum always stood up against the hate that killed her, and we need to talk about everything she stood up for.”
Ms Smith and other MPs attended a vigil in Parliament Square in London on Thursday night to pay their respects.
Morecambe and Lunesdale Labour Party also paid their respects.
A spokesman said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened about the death of Labour MP Jo Cox.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Jo died at the heart of our democracy, listening to the people she represented.
“Morecambe and Lunesdale Labour Party send our deepest condolences to Jo’s family and friends at this acutely difficult time.”
A 52-year-old man has been arrested after the attack, West Yorkshire Police said.