BBC News Channel

Labour MP Clive Betts says his colleague Jo Cox, who has reportedly been shot, is "a thoroughly nice person" who people genuinely like.

His voice shaking with emotion, Mr Betts says the Batley and Spen MP is also a mother. "I don't know a single person who had an ill thought about her," he tells the BBC.

BBC News Channel

Shadow police minister Jack Dromey says "tears are flowing in the House of Commons" over the reported shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox.

Describing her as one of the nicest people and "a friend", he tells the BBC News Channel: "She's the kind of person who when she speaks, everyone listens."

He says Ms Cox already has a "long and honorable history as an aide worker", is "popular with her constituents" and a champion for those fleeing Syria.

Leeds North East Labour MP Fabian Hamilton said he had known Jo Cox since before she became an MP.

Mr Hamilton said: "And I'm just completely devastated, I know Birstall reasonably well, and I think we're all totally shocked."

The Vote Leave battle bus suspends campaigning today after the reported incident involving Jo Cox MP.

Britain Stronger In Europe, the official campaign for the UK remaining in the EU, has also suspended all campaigning for the day.

In a tweet Britain Stronger In said: "Our thoughts are with Jo Cox and her family."

Labour In for Britain has also confirmed on Twitter they have suspended campaigning today.

BBC News Channel

BBC correspondent Cathy Killick says Labour MP Jo Cox was giving a surgery at the local library between 12:00 and 13:00 BST.

Police say they received reports of a shooting at 12:53 BST.

"There then seems to have been some sort of violent incident outside the library, possibly spilling into the little cafe next door."

Jo Cox's office reported the MP was injured and another man was "slightly injured". Cathy adds that "police have arrested a 52-year-old man and they are now clearing the scene around the library and around the cafe".

Following the alleged shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox, West Yorkshire Police said a 52-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the attack, which happened near the town's library, where the Ms Cox holds her advice surgeries.

A police spokesman said:

BBC News Channel

BBC correspondent Cathy Killick describes the scene in Birstall.

"There's an absolute forest of blue tape as [the police] cordon-off as much of Birstall town centre as they can. The library is deserted with blue tape all around it.

"There's quite a lot of activity at a cafe next door where, it's believed, some of the violence took place."

Cathy says the police have the incident "under control" and are moving people away from the library.

Onlookers are reacting "with disbelief that such a thing can happen in their town", she adds.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has spoken after reports that MP Jo Cox has been shot:

Vote Leave has suspended battle bus campaigning for the day. Boris Johnson, who was out campaigning on the bus in East Anglia, said: "Just heard the absolutely horrific news about the attack on Jo Cox MP. My thoughts are with Jo and her family." 

BBC News Channel

Labour MP John Mann describes the reported shooting of his fellow Labour MP Jo Cox as "absolutely terrible".

He tells the BBC News Channel that Ms Cox, elected in 2015 is an "outstanding" MP, "hardworking and eloquent".

He adds: "Everyone likes and loves her and highly respects her."

Asked about the safety of MPs, he says that he and his colleagues are "aware of the dangers and people are careful of where they do things, how they do them" and take police advice.

"We're in the public eye," Mr Mann adds.

Image source, PA

More on MP Jo Cox who has been injured following reports of shooting and stabbing in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

Unconfirmed reports suggest Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was shot and stabbed. A man was also thought to have been stabbed.

It is understood the MP was holding a surgery at Birstall Library before the attack.

She was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary. Armed police are said to be outside the hospital.

Read more

Labour MP Jo Cox, who has been injured following a shooting in Birstall, West Yorkshire, was a keen campaigner for the UK to remain in the EU and a member of the Labour women's network.

Ms Cox was due to hold a regular MP's surgery in Birstall today.

The incident follows the stabbing of Labour MP Stephen Timms at a constituency surgery in 2010.

Former Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones was injured and a colleague stabbed to death in 2000 after they were attacked with a sword.  

Jeremy Clarkson tells David Cameron that his "gut" tells him to vote Remain and that Leave campaign arguments are "not compelling enough" to make him want to drive a Morris Oxford, "which is what would happen".

A BBC correspondent says two people have been injured in the incident in Birstall, near Leeds

One man was stabbed and Jo Cox's constituency office has confirmed she's been injured, with the Press Association saying she had been shot.

Our correspondent says that a nearby primary school has been in lockdown and a gunman is on the loose.

Ms Cox, who is married with two young children, was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary.

The attack took place near the town's library where she held advice surgeries. Ms Cox was elected to the seat of Batley and Spen at the last general election in 2015.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom says the Bank of England's job is to set monetary policy in an independent way - and not to give "a partial assessment" of what could happen if the UK leaves the EU.

The keen Leave campaigner, who worked in the City for 25 years before becoming an MP, told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme, that "the truth is the Bank doesn't know" what will happen post a Brexit.

Ms Leadsom also lays into Treasury forecasts, claiming they are "nonsense, blatant nonsense".

She says big businesses "may well accept what the government is telling them", but adds: "Economists have got it wrong so many times."

Jo Cox, who has reportedly been shot in Birstall, near Leeds, has been Labour MP for Batley and Spen since 2015. She is 41.

West Yorkshire Police are expected to give more details shortly.

Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox has been shot in Birstall near Leeds, an eyewitness said, the Press Association reports