Jo Cox murder: Conservatives will not contest by-election for late Labour MP's seat

The Conservative Party will not contest the Batley and Spen by-election out of respect to the West Yorkshire seat's late Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in constituency on 17 June. The announcement came as Prime Minister David Cameron travels to Birstall to pay tribute to the 41-year-old.

"Following the tragic killing of Labour MP Jo Cox, the Conservative Party has decided not to contest the forthcoming by-election as a mark of respect to a much-loved and respected politician," a spokesman for the party said.

Labour have not yet announced a date for the by-election, but the Tory's gesture means Jeremy Corbyn's party are expected to win the seat. Cox secured a majority of more than 6,000 votes over her Conservative rival Imtiaz Ameen at the 2015 general election.

Meanwhile, mourners in Westminster paid tribute to the mother of two after she was fatally shot and stabbed following a constituency surgery. George and Margaret Aitken, who are on holiday in London from Edinburgh, visited Parliament Square on 17 June.

"We are absolutely stunned by this event, you know, it's just awful," the couple told IBTimes UK, describing their reaction to the tragic news as "utter disbelief.

They added: "It shouldn't happen any time, but why to somebody who is doing good for her constituency. Everybody that's been interviewed at her home constituency have nothing but good to say about her."

A 52-year-old man, named locally as Thomas Mair, was arrested by West Yorkshire Police on suspicion of murder. The killing came with a week to go before the 23 June EU referendum.

Groups on both sides of the debate have suspended their campaigns in reaction to the tragic incident. The late Labour MP had taken part in a counter demonstration with her husband, Brendan, on the River Thames to Nigel Farage's Brexit flotilla on 15 June.

"Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love. I and Joe'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," Brendan said in a 16 June statement.

"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."