A Labour MP paid tribute to her murdered colleague Jo Cox as polls opened today to select Cox’s successor.
In an emotional speech, Valerie Vaz said the MP’s family “should not have had to bury their daughter, sister, and wife”, and “her adored children should not have to grow up without their mother”.
Polls opened today in Cox’s former constituency Batley and Spen, after she was killed in her constituency a week before the EU referendum.
Labour’s candidate is Tracy Brabin, an actor and television writer, who was was selected last month by constituency party members.
Other major parties - including the Tories, the Lib Dems, the Greens, and Ukip are not contesting the seat as a mark of respect to Cox.
However there are nine other candidates from fringe parties running for the seat, including Therese Hirst for the English Democrats,Jack Buckby for Liberty GB, David Furness for the BNP and Richard Edmonds for the National Front.