Bucks MPs Steve Baker and Dominic Grieve pay tribute to murdered MP Jo Cox

The Labour MP and mother-of-two died after being shot and stabbed in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

Following the tragic news of her death, tributes have poured in across the country, with Wycombe MP Steve Baker describing it as an “utterly shocking and appalling time in the history of our country”.

He said: “Jo Cox was evidently a lovely person, the very model of what an MP should be.”

“As I tweeted last night, huge sadness was felt across parliament. I am sure a great many of us shed a tear for her, it’s a thoroughly appalling time.”

MP Jo Cox.

The 41-year-old was murdered in broad daylight outside a library in her constituency at about 1pm.

West Yorkshire Police are currently investigating the circumstances of the murder and have arrested a 52-year-old man.

This morning, Westminster colleagues and fellow Labour politicians in Buckinghamshire have spoken of their shock and sadness.

Mr Baker added: “It’s an utter shocking and appalling time in the history of our country that a member of parliament has been murdered doing her duties as she saw fit.

“It’s another one of those moments were none of us will forget where we were.

MP Steve Baker.

“I was sitting in my office with the news on silent, when we heard she’d been shot.

“I put out a couple of tweets wishing her Godspeed and then we learnt she was dead. It’s utterly appalling.”

MP for Amersham and Chesham, Cheryl Gillan, added: "Jo Cox MP was such a nice person that I find it almost impossible to believe she could be taken from her husband, her little children, her family, the community and the constituents she served with such dedication, who were like a family too, in such a devastating and tragic way.

"I knew Jo as a feisty campaigning MP and her spirit was invincible.

"Her overwhelming belief in all the virtues of democracy will always be her gift to the Parliamentary system which she loved and served with such distinction."

Former mayor of High Wycombe and Labour councillor, Mohammed Hanif, paid tribute on social media.

He said: “The murder of Jo Cox, MP is a very tragic news. Our sincere condolences to Jo Cox's family and friends.

“This country has come a long way from the bad old days.

“It is hoped that no racist ideologies can intimidate this country's long and well-practised individual liberty and mutual tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

Mrs Cox was shot and stabbed just before 1pm yesterday in her Batley and Spen constituency.

She was pronounced dead around an hour later, leaving her husband Brendan and two young children, aged three and five.

Conservative MP for Beaconsfield, Dominic Grieve said: “She had only been in a year so I did not know her well outside of parliament, but it was clear she was an outstanding MP with so much potential about her which is clear in the contribution she was making to parliament and her constituents.

“It is a terrible tragedy and my thoughts are with her and her family.”

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