MP Jo Cox dies after attack in Birstall, West Yorkshire

Jo Cox died after being shot and stabbed in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

The mother of two was attacked by a man reportedly shouting "Britain first".

Now, members of Southampton City Council have arranged a public vigil to be held in her memory.

Cllr Satvir Kaur said: "I was absolutely shocked and heart broken when I heard and it has clearly shocked a lot of people regardless of who you are or what your political leaning is.

"Some people don't realise how much you dedicate your life to public service and you don't do it for the glory, you do it to make a difference.

"And to be brutally murdered while doing that is heart breaking."

The vigil will take place on Saturday at the Peace Fountain in Southampton's East Park at noon.

The alleged gunman has been named as Tommy Mair, 52, who neighbours in Birstall have described as "a loner".

Fellow Labour and Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead took to Twitter to say "Terrible news about Jo Cox", adding that his thoughts are with her family.

Fareham MP Suella Fernandes said she was "deeply saddened by Jo's death", adding "Praying for her family and children".

Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes said: "Such horrific news about Jo Cox, she was a lovely person, always smiling, thoughts and prayers with her family at a dreadful time".

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said: "People go into politics to do their best for people.

"Jo Cox was doing that when her life was tragically cut short.

"She was a decent, hard-working MP who had the very brightest future ahead of her.

"I can't even begin to imagine what her husband, children and family are going through.

"The world has lost a special person today."

Eastleigh MP Mims Davies, below, said what had happened was "utterly incomprehensible".

Ms Cox's last question in parliament was to New Forest MP Sir Desmond Swayne, international development minister, regarding funding for communities devastated by the Syrian civil war.

Describing his colleague as "our great champion for the refugees,"  Sir Desmond tweeted: "Lord Jesus Christ when thou comest into thy Kingdom, remember Jo Cox, thy servant."

Southampton City Council cabinet member for education Darren Paffey said: "Utterly horrendous news about murder of @Jo_Cox1 while serving her community. Thoughts & prayers with her family, friends & colleagues." 

His colleague, leisure and communities chief Satvir Kaur, tweeted: "Shocked! What a sad day for democracy, for Jo's constituency, the Labour Party, and most of all her family."

In a statement, Ms Cox's husband Brendan said: "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 everyday of her life with an energy, and a zest for life that would exhaust most people.

Labour MPs leaving a vigil for Jo Cox at St Peter's Church in Birstall (Peter Byrne/PA wire)

"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."

Ms Collins continued: "This is a very significant investigation with a large number of witnesses being spoken to at this time.

"It's a large and significant crime scene and a large police presence with a full investigation is under way to establish the motive for this attack."

Ms Collins continued: "Shortly afterwards a man was arrested nearby by local uniformed police officers. Weapons, including a firearm, have also been recovered.

"At 1.48pm Jo Cox was pronounced deceased by a doctor who was working with a paramedic crew that were attending to her serious injuries.

"This is a very significant investigation with large numbers of witnesses that have been spoken to by police at this time. There is a large and significant crime scene and there is a large police presence in the area.

"A full investigation is under way to establish the motive for this attack."

The murder shocked Westminster and led to the suspension of campaigning in the EU referendum.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The death of Jo Cox is a tragedy. She was a committed and caring MP. My thoughts are with her husband Brendan and her two young children."

Home Secretary Theresa May said it was a "dreadful event" adding that Westminster had lost one of its "brightest and most popular" MPs.

Tributes were laid to Ms Cox outside parliament (Yui Mok/PA wire)

Ms Cox was elected to the seat of Batley and Spen at the last general election in 2015.

She was a Remain supporter in the referendum and both official campaigns have suspended their operations as a mark of respect following the attack on her.

She has two children with husband Brendan who shortly after the attack Tweeted a picture of her next to the River Thames, where they lived in a houseboat.

She graduated from Cambridge University in 1995 and worked as an adviser for former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown's wife, Sarah, and Baroness Kinnock.

Ms Cox was a vocal advocate for the victims of the Syrian civil war and abstained in last autumn's contentious vote on allowing British military action in Syria.