'A Yorkshire tigress' Listen to Tory MP Andrew Mitchell's moving tribute to Jo Cox
CONSERVATIVE MP Andrew Mitchell has paid a touching tribute to his friend Jo Cox – describing her as a "Yorkshire" tigress.
Andrew Mitchell pays tribute to Jo Cox
Mrs Cox was killed after being shot and stabbed in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on Thursday afternoon.
The 41-year-old Labour MP had been holding a constituency surgery. Mrs Cox's death has led to tributes being paid to her right across the political spectrum.
Speaking to LBC, Mr Mitchell said: "She was brilliant. She was a Yorkshire tigress.
"She would deploy that grit and determination.
Andrew Mitchell has paid tribute to Jo Cox
She was a bundle of energy and enthusiasm for the issues about which she cared
"She cared deeply about the dispossessed, the poor, those whose lives were marred by tragedy and difficulty.
"I remember on one occasion, she and I went to see the Russian ambassador to try and persuade his country to take a different view on its interests in the Middle East and Syria.
"Her mix of clever charm and steely determination certainly made him wince in that discussion."
He continued: "She was a bundle of energy and enthusiasm for the issues about which she cared.
"But above all, I think about those two lovely children who used to come and have tea with her at Westminster every week and the awful loss her family now faces.
"The tragedy of all of this is that she had a tremendous contribution to make to British political life, to public life.
"The issues that she cares about really matter for her children’s generation."
Mrs Cox’s attacker is reported to have shouted "Britain first". A 52-year-old man, named locally as Tommy Mair, has been arrested.
Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have both paid tribute to Mrs Cox.
David Cameron said: "The death of Jo Cox is a tragedy. She was a committed and caring MP."