The husband of British MP Jo Cox has paid tribute to his wife, after she was murdered on Thursday afternoon in West Yorkshire.
Taking to Twitter, the heartbroken father of two shared an image of his wife standing outside their converted barge home, with the blue sky and landmarks of London visible behind her.
He left the caption empty on the photograph, as it slowly dawned on the world that Jo had lost her battle in hospital.
Jo Cox, who worked for the UK Labour Party, was pronounced dead at 1.48pm.
Later that afternoon, he managed to put together a touching tribute to his wife, who campaigned religiously on causes such as immigration and helping refugees from Syria.
Just 24 hours before her death – Jo and her family took to the Thames to campaign for the UK to remain in Europe
Brendan’s wordless tweet acted as the first tribute to his beloved wife
“Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love,” he said.
“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 hatred 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.
“Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full.”
Brendan’s tribute to his wife
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said they were “in shock at the horrific murder of Jo Cox today.”
“In the coming days there will be questions to answer about how and why she died.
“All our thoughts are with Jo’s husband Brendan and their two young children. They will grow up without their Mum but can be immensely proud of what she did, what she achieved and what she stood for.”
A candlelight vigil for Jo Cox.
A middle aged man from the area, named as Tommy Mair, was arrested shortly after Jo was shot and stabbed in the street.
Witnesses claim their heard the assailant shout: “Put Britain first” before attacking Jo, a reference to the MP’s pro-immigration stance.
Both Vote Leave and Vote Remain suspended campaigning in the EU referendum in light of the attack.
