Labour pays tribute to murdered MP Jo Cox

The Leeds West MP, a longtime friend of Mrs Cox and her husband Brendan, promised the former Batley and Spen MP’s work would be continued.

She said: “Jo appealed to our better instincts, our sense that - as she said in her maiden speech - we have far more in common than that which divides us.”

Ms Reeves continued: “Jo died doing the job that she loved, in the place that she loved, representing the people that she loved.”

She said Mrs Cox was “struck down much too soon” and it was down to her friends, MPs and the rest of Labour to carry on her work.

And she appealed to Labour members to “treat each other as friends and as comrades” in line with Mrs Cox’s values.

“Batley and Spen will go on to elect a new MP on October 20 and we wish her well. But no-one can ever replace a mother.

“Jo, we miss you.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader Tom Watson joined conference delegates to listen to the tributes and watch a video of people talking about Mrs Cox and the impact she had.

Labour has launched a mentoring scheme to help hundreds of women into leadership roles has been launched by the Labour Party in memory of Mrs Cox.

Labour General Secretary Iain McNicol said: “Over the next five years we will train over 600 future women leaders, our biggest ever mentoring and development programme.

“Jo was a true champion of women in leadership roles and international feminism and this programme will create a generation of women who can continue Jo’s fight in local government, in parliament and crucially in their communities, a fitting tribute to Jo’s life and work.”