Jo Cox murder: Tories will not contest Batley and Spen by-election

Uncontested: The Conservatives will not field a candidate in Batley and Spen following the murder of Jo Cox
PA Wire
Jamie Bullen17 June 2016
WEST END FINAL

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The Conservatives have announced they will not contest the by-election in Batley and Spen following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.

Former Conservative chairman Grant Shapps said Labour should be given a free run in the West Yorkshire constituency in tribute to Mrs Cox's "extraordinary public service".

Mother-of-two Mrs Cox, 41, was killed outside a library in Birstall, near Leeds, when she was shot and stabbed following a constituency surgery.

Mr Shapps said Mrs Cox had died "doing her job serving the community she represented for too short a time".

He added: "I hope that in the sad by-election to follow, Jo Cox's constituency is left uncontested as a tribute to Jo's extraordinary public service."

The Liberal Democrats and Ukip have also confirmed no candidates will be fielded in the election.

No date has been set to find her successor.

Mrs Cox held the seat for just over a year after she was elected last year with a comfortable majority of 6,057 votes.

The constituency has been held by Labour since 1997, but was previously a Conservative seat since its creation in 1983.

The Conservatives took second place in the constituency at last year’s election, with Ukip some way behind in third.

A Conservative spokesman said: "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."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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