POLITICIANS hoping to become the next MP for Batley and Spen put aside their differences for an hour to honour the memory of the constituency’s former MP Jo Cox.

Labour’s Tracy Brabin, Green Party candidate Alan Freeman, Liberal Democrat John Lawson, independent Aleks Lukic and Conservative Ann Myatt halted their campaigns and sat down together at a community event at a local nursery in Gomersal, around a mile away from Birstall, where the mother-of-two was murdered last June.

Her widower Brendan Cox had called on Parliamentary candidates across the country to observe an hour-long campaign truce yesterday and remember that they have more in common than that which divides them - a reference to his late wife’s famous maiden speech in the House of Commons.

Little Latham Farmers Childcare Centre in Gomersal held the bash in celebration of its first birthday. Proceeds from the event went towards funding Christmas Eve boxes for mothers and babies spending Christmas on Special Care Baby Units.

Ms Brabin, who had been a friend of Mrs Cox, said: "It was important for all of us to take time out of our busy campaign schedules, in order to remember that we have more in common than that which divides us.

“Little Latham Farmers Childcare Centre were generously fundraising for nearby Special Care Baby Units, and all candidates were all glad to be able to help in our own small way."