THE husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox said yesterday that he does not believe the Leave campaigns ahead of the EU referendum were connected to her death.

Brendan Cox said he felt the referendum had caused “heightened tension” but that he did not think that the campaign for Brexit, or the 52 per cent of voters who backed it, were to blame.

Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Cox added: “Jo was always very clear that [voting Leave] was a completely legitimate choice and there were good reasons for staying and there were good reasons for going.”

Ms Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen, who has been succeeded by former Coronation Street actor Tracy Brabin after a by-election on October 20, died after being shot and stabbed outside her constituency office just over a week before the referendum result was announced.

Mr Cox said the killing had hit him and the couple’s two young children “harder than anything could ever hit you” and that he was still in shock.

Thomas Mair, 53, has been charged with murder, possession of a firearm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.