Jo Cox murder: Police examine far-right links

Police investigating the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox have said the suspected killer's links to far-right extremists are a priority in their inquiry.

Police found far-right literature and Nazi regalia at the home of Tommy Mair, the 52-year-old man arrested in connection with the killing on Thursday.

A US anti-fascist group said Mr Mair bought a book about how to make a home-made gun from a white supremacist group in 1999.

The Southern Poverty Law Centre published records showing Mr Mair also bought literature from the National Alliance, a far-right group based in Virginia.

The two sides in Britain's EU referendum extended their moratorium on campaigning until tomorrow as David Cameron and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made a joint appearance in Birstall, near Leeds, where Ms Cox was killed.

National interest

Mr Cameron said: “People who go into public life, they want to act in the public interest, to pursue the national interest, to do things for other people, to make the country, make the world a better place. Politicians disagree with each other. We often disregard what politicians say, disregard each other and the rest of it.

“But at the end of the day that is what it is about, and that is what Jo showed it is all about.”

Mr Corbyn, who said parliament was being recalled on Monday to allow MPs to pay tribute to Ms Cox, said it was important everyone come together to protect the right of free speech and political expression.

“She was taken from us in an act of hatred, in a vile act that has killed her. It’s an attack on democracy . . .” he said.

“It’s a tragedy beyond tragedy . . . In her memory, we will not allow those people who spread hatred and poison to divide our society. We will strengthen our democracy, strengthen our free speech.”

Manchester visit

Taoiseach Enda Kenny paid tribute to Ms Cox during a visit to Manchester which had been planned as an effort to campaign for a Remain vote.

He told his audience at Manchester’s Irish World Heritage Centre he would not comment on Brexit while the campaign was suspended.

“A mother of two young children, going about her business as any councillor or MP would do, any public representative, and to be shot down and taken away from her family and her children is an appalling crime,” he said.

"And on behalf of the people of Ireland, I would tender our sympathies and condolences to Brendan and their two children, to her extended family, to the members of the Labour Party and to the people of Great Britain, at the loss of a public representative, taken away before she had completed her work . . ."