Mansfield Labour member blasts gruesome attack against colleague

West Yorkshire MP Jo Cox has suffered a brutal attack while working in her constituency and is reported to be in critical condition.

Campaigns for the EU referendum have been suspended after the Labour member Jo Cox was reportedly shot and stabbed near to Birstall library in the MP's West Yorkshire constituency of Batley & Spen at around 1.30pm today (June 16).

A man in his fifties is reported to have brandished a gun, possibly homemade, shooting Ms Cox and leaving her in critical condition. Another man, as yet unnamed, is also believed to have been injured.

There are conflicting reports regarding the motives behind the attack, with one report suggesting it is in relation to Ms Cox's refusal to vote against airstrikes in Syria, while the Mirror has reported that the attack called 'Britain First', naming the far right group, during the incident.

A member of her Ms Cox’s told the Yorkshire Post: “I’ve just arrived at the scene but I’ve not been told anything more.

“She was doing a surgery. I got a call from a colleague who was with her and I came straight over. There was an ambulance there. She has been injured but I don’t know how or what.”

Sir Alan Meale, veteran Labour MP for Mansfield, damned the attack and sent out his thoughts to Ms Cox's family and staff.

He told the Chad: "It's absolutely disgraceful what's happened. I hope action is being taken urgently to reprimand the people responsible, and ensure the safety of other Members of Parliament and staff around the country.

Labour MP Jo Cox '˜shot and stabbed' outside Birstall library - huge hunt for at...

Sir Alan added: "Many people don't realise that members of parliament do not infrequently receive threats from members of the public. Most of which doesn't come to fruition thankfully. However the threats are made and assaults and attempts to injure MPs occasionally occur in the same way as they do to other public servants who are carrying out their jobs. Such behaviour is unacceptable in any form in democratic society, against politicians, civil servants, the fire brigade, paramedics - anybody who represents public service."

"I know that every member of parliament regardless of politician persuasion will be sending their best to her staff and family, and we wish her a speedy recovery.

"Jo is a hard working representative. She's always in the library for surgeries or on the commons floor, shes a member of a number of committees - she's one of the hardest working MPs in Westminster."