After Labour MP Jo Cox was killed in an attack on Thursday, celebrities and public figures from Jeremy Corbyn to Lily Allen have been offering their condolences on the tragedy.
The mother-of-two was attacked by a man carrying a knife and firearms after she left an advice surgery for constituents in Birstell. The police have arrested 52-year-old Tommy Mair in connection with the murder, who eyewitnesses claim shouted "Britain first" after he attacked the MP.
© Photo: RexJo was killed on Thursday
Jo's husband Brendan released a statement, asking the public to "fight against hatred," saying: "Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love. I and Jo's friends and family are going to work every moment of our lives to love and nurture our kids and to fight against the hate that killed Jo.
"Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy, and a zest for life that would exhaust most people. She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, one that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn’t have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous."
© Photo: RexJo's husband Brendan asked that "we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her"
Public figures and celebrities have followed suit, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn posting a heartfelt statement about the Labour MP's death on Twitter. He wrote: "The whole of the Labour family, and indeed the whole country, is in shock and grief at the horrific murder of Jo Cox…in the coming days there will be questions to answer about how and why she died. But for now our thoughts are with Jo's husband Brendan and their two young children."
Famous faces including Lily Allen commented on the possible political motives behind the attack.
"How can you not politicize it? Such a sad day for this country. Great Britain? Not so much," Lily wrote on Twitter. "To people saying not to politicize the horrendous death of Jo Cox, she was an MP, a left wing politician killed outside her surgery." Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton released a statement on her website which read: "This is how we must honour Jo Cox - by rejecting bigotry in all its forms, and instead embracing, as she always did, everything that binds us together."
Other stars sent their condolences to Jo's friends and family. Boy George wrote: "R.I.P MP Jo Cox. How sad is this. My thoughts are with her loved ones and friends," while Gary Lineker wrote: "What a tragic loss. Thoughts are with Jo Cox's family. We live in a really messed up world."
Charlotte Church changed her profile picture to a photo of the MP, and wrote: "Jo Cox.....so devastated to hear this. Love to all who knew her. Terrible loss," while Dawn O'Porter wrote: "RIP Jo Cox. Just the saddest news."
Other British stars including Nick Grimshaw, Douglas Booth, Eddie Izzard and Michael Sheen also opened up about the tragedy. Eddie wrote: "RIP Jo Cox. Just the saddest news."
