A Harrow MP has praised Jo Cox – the MP who died after being attacked in her constituency – saying she “quickly made her mark” in Parliament.

Jo Cox, 41, was shot and stabbed as she made her way to a scheduled constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire, at around 1pm on Thursday.

A 52-year-old man named locally as Thomas Mair has been arrested. Harrow East MP Bob Blackman worked with Mrs Cox on the Communities and Local Government Select Committee.

“She quickly demonstrated her strength as an advocate for the causes in which she believed. She managed to convey her thoughts with passion but always with a cheery smile,” he said.

“In Parliament she had quickly made her mark and was respected on all sides of the political divide.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Jo's friends and family who now have to come to terms with their loss under such tragic circumstances.”

Prime Minister David Cameron visited Mrs Cox’s West Yorkshire constituency on Friday along with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to pay tribute.

The mother of two became MP for Batley and Spen in 2015.