Call to heal Labour divisions in honour of MP Jo Cox

The Labour Party must heal its divisions in dedication to the late MP Jo Cox, colleague Rachel Reeves has urged.

The former shadow work and pensions secretary, who encouraged Mrs Cox to stand as a Labour MP, said members of the party must treat each other as "comrades" as they debate the future of Labour.

Ms Reeves led a special tribute to the mother of two, who was shot and stabbed in her constituency in June, at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

The moving tributes, which included a short video dedicated to Mrs Cox's achievements, ended with a long standing ovation and loud round of applause.

Baroness Royall said a moment of silence would not have been fitting for the MP who always spoke up.

Ms Reeves said: "We know that our party and our country face challenging times.

"But as we debate and debate passionately this week, on conference floor and at fringe meetings, we here, all of us, we have far more in common than that which divides us.

"Let's treat each other as friends and as comrades.

"As Jo appealed to our common sense of humanity and of seeing the good in people, I urge you let's live by those values too."

She added: "As I said when I paid tribute to Jo in parliament, Batley and Spen will go on to elect a new MP on October 20 and we wish her well.

"But no one can ever replace a mother. Jo we miss you."

Former soap actress Tracy Brabin, who has been selected as Labour's candidate in the by-election sparked by Mrs Cox's death, broke down in tears during the tributes.