Thomas Mair found guilty of Jo Cox murder

The sister of slain MP Jo Cox has said the family will not be beaten by her murder and are determined to respond to the hatred of her killing with strength and love.

Kim Leadbeater said the family were still processing their grief but were "stronger and more united than ever" in a statement after Mrs Cox's killer Thomas Mair was given a whole life term for the murder.

She vowed they would continue to champion to values that the MP represented, which she described as "compassion, tolerance, acceptance, understanding and a determination to continue to fight for what is right."

Thomas Mair has been jailed for life for the murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox – and told he will probably die in prison.

Sentencing him at the Old Bailey, the judge Mr Justice Wilkie told the 53-year-old far right fanatic he was "no patriot", saying instead that Mrs Cox represented "the true meaning of the word".

He also revealed that he had refused the defence's request for Mair to address the court. Mair did not give evidence in his defence.

The judge said: "Your crime has an additional dimension because she was an MP which calls for significant punishment." He added: "The death of Jo Cox was both a personal tragedy and one of great political significance."

Mair remained impassive in the dock as he was sentenced.

The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has paid tribute to Jo Cox after Thomas Mair was today found guilty of the former Batley and Spen MP's murder.

He said: “Jo Cox believed passionately that all people can achieve their full potential given the opportunity. Her murder was an attack on democracy, and has robbed the world of an ambassador of kindness and compassion.