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Man charged with murdering British lawmaker due in court

West Yorkshire Police had charged Mair overnight with murder, inflicting grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit a crime, and other gun charges.

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Mair, 52, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London wearing a grey sweatshirt and pants, Reuters reported.

Both sides in the deeply divisive campaign ahead of a referendum on European Union membership on next Thursday have cancelled events amid calls for a less acrimonious political debate.

This story is developing.

British police said on Saturday they had charged a suspect in the slaying of lawmaker Jo Cox.

Cox, who was married with two children, was elected to represent Batley and Spen during the last general election in 2015.

Cox, a rising star in Britain’s opposition Labour Party and a mother-of-two, died Thursday after she was shot and stabbed in broad daylight outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, northern England.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister and the Labour leader led tributes to the MP from her constituency in West Yorkshire.

The White House said Obama offered condolences to Cox’s widower and praised her “selfless service”.

Vigils were held across the United Kingdom on Friday evening with politicians and members of the public gathering to lay flowers and light candles in honour of Ms Cox.

Cox, a former aid worker, was an advocate for refugee rights and immigration and wanted Britain to remain in the EU.

Three separate witnesses say that the man shouted “Britain first” before firing on the member of parliament.

Cox supported the Remain side, which, like the rival Leave camp, suspended its campaigning following her murder.

“It is a vile act that has killed her”, Corbyn said.

Tributes have poured in from around the world, with Barack Obama making a personal phonecall to Mrs Cox’s widower Brendan to offer his honest condolences.

An online fund to raise money for Cox’s favorite charities had amassed more than £200,000 (254,000 euros) in just five hours. The man is recovering in hospital.

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They have a famously close contact with their electorate, meeting members of the public at least once a week to hear directly their problems and concerns.

People light candles at the tributes in Parliament Square central London on Friday in remembrance of Labor MP Jo Cox who was killed on a street in Birstall on Thurdsay. AFP