Politicians "inspired" by MP Cox: Scottish first minister

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday that politicians have been "inspired to rededicate" themselves to public service following British Labour member of parliament (MP) Jo Cox's death.

Speaking at a meeting of the British-Irish Council held in Glasgow, Sturgeon paid tribute to Cox who was gunned down and stabbed in broad daylight outside a public library in Birstall, Yorkshire on Thursday.

"As politicians we all value and are deeply committed to the openness and accessibility of elected representatives to the people we serve," she noted at the meeting, which was also attended by British Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell, and Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny.

Devolved administrations of Wales and Northern Ireland and the Governments of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man were also present at the meeting, with one of the main topics of discussion being social inclusion and approaches being taken by the eight member administrations.

Both sides in Britain's referendum battle over European Union (EU) membership halted their campaign Thursday afternoon after the death of Cox, a supporter of the campaign for Britain to remain in the EU, and all campaigning were also cancelled on Friday.

Flags were flying at half mast at the Scottish Parliament and on Scottish government buildings as a mark of respect to Cox, a 41-year-old mother of two.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Friday condemned the killing and laid flowers in tribute to Cox in her West Yorkshire constituency.

A 52-year-old man named locally as Tommy Mair was arrested following the attack, said West Yorkshire Police.

Britain will hold a referendum on June 23 to decide whether it should remain in the EU. A majority of Scots will back a vote for Britain to stay in the EU, poll results showed. Endit