MPs return to Parliament in 'heartbreaking sadness' to pay tribute to Jo Cox

Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen

There were tears in the Commons today as MPs paid tribute to their murdered colleague Jo Cox.

Mrs Cox's husband Brendan and two children sat out of view in the public gallery as they listened to heartfelt tributes.

They heard their wife and mother was "brave", "inspirational " and someone who "wanted to leave the world a better place then she found it".

A retired man who risked his life trying to save Jo Cox after she was fatally attacked has been discharged from hospital.

Bernard Kenny, 77, was stabbed in the stomach after he rushed to the aid of the stricken MP last Thursday.

He was released home after treatment for the "serious injury" West Yorkshire Police said today.

Mr Kenny and his family offered "sincere condolences" to the family of Jo Cox in a statement which said her death was "a very sad loss for the community".

Thousands have signed a petition calling for Mr Kenny to be given the George Cross for his bravery, while David Cameron today said he was a "hero" who should be given "public recognition".

A board member of the Islamophobia-monitoring organisation Tell Mama has said Jo Cox recognised the growth of the far-right "was a threat to the well-being of the community" and that she wanted to campaign against hate "of all forms".

The Labour MP for Batley and Spen, who died after being shot and stabbed on Thursday, planned to launch a Tell Mama report on the dangers of nationalist radicals on June 29.

David Cameron has said there should be some form of public honour for Bernard Kenny, the passerby who tried to save the life of Jo Cox.

Retired miner Mr Kenny, aged 77, was stabbed in the stomach after he rushed to help the stricken MP.

Mr Cameron today hailed Mr Kenny as a "hero" and said he deserved public recognition.

Thousands have signed a petition calling for Mr Kenny to be formally recognised for his bravery.

It calls for him to be given the "highest honour" which for non-military personnel would be the George Cross.

Jo Cox's husband Brendan has thanked MPs and staff for the "kindness and compassion" shown to her family as they attended to hear Commons tributes to the Labour MP.

He expressed his appreciation of colleagues "describing so well the Jo we love".

• MP's tearful tribute to long-time friend Jo Cox

Jo Cox's husband Brendan and their two children were present in the House of Commons to hear tributes to the Labour MP, who was killed in her West Yorkshire constituency last Thursday.

Also seated in the gallery overlooking the chamber of the Commons were Mrs Cox's parents Jean and Gordon, sister Kim and other family members.

MPs have left Parliament following tributes to Jo Cox, to head to St Margaret's Church where a remembrance service is being for the murdered MP.

Earlier, MPs had returned to Parliament to pay tribute to the MP for Batley and Spen, with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn saying "society as a whole has lost one of our very best".

St Margaret's Church sits between Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

Labour MP Rachel Reeves, who knew Jo Cox for about ten years, said she had very many fond memories of her.

Paying tribute to the MP, she said: "It is ironic that after travelling the world to some of the damaged, war ravaged place in the world Jo died so near to her home. But she died doing the job that she loved in the place that she loved, representing the people that she loved."

"Jo was struck down much too soon so it now falls on all of our shoulders....to carry on Jo's work. To combat and guard against hatred, intolerance and injustice. To serve others with dignity and with love and that is the best way we can remember Jo and all that she stood for.

"Batley and Spen will go on to elect a new MP but no-one can replace a mother," she concluded as she broke down into tears.

As David Cameron paid tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox spoke of the sadness the country felt at the killing of the "loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician".

He said: "We are here today to remember an extraordinary colleague and friend. Jo Cox was a voice of compassion whose irrepressible spirit and boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her, and saved the lives of many she never, ever met.

"Today we grieve her loss, and we hold in our hearts and prayers her husband Brendan, her parents and sister, and her two children who are just three and five years-old.

"We express our anger at the sickening and despicable attack that killed her as she did her job serving her constituents on the streets of Birstall.

"Let me join the leader of the Opposition in his moving words in praising Bernard Kenny and all those who tried to save her.

"But above all in this House we pay tribute to a loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician, who epitomised the best of humanity and who proved so often the power of politics to make our world a better place."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said "we have lost one of our own" as he paid tribute to killed MP Jo Cox"

He added: "Our society as a whole has lost one of our very best"

"In the days since the country has also learnt something of the extraordinary humanity and compassion which drove her political activism and beliefs.

"Jo Cox didn't just believe in loving her neighbour, she believed in loving her neighbour's neighbour.

"She believed every life counted equally", he added.