Labour wins Tooting by-election against backdrop of Cox murder

The Labour Party held on to the London seat of Tooting in a by-election victory overshadowed by the murder of Jo Cox on the same day.

The seat, vacated by Sadiq Khan when he stood successfully to be London Mayor, was won by Rosena Allin-Khan, who increased the party's majority to 6,357 from 2,824 on a turnout of 42%.

Khan used her victory speech to pay tribute to Cox, killed only hours earlier on Thursday in her Yorkshire constituency by a lone gunman.

Jo’s death reminds us that our democracy is precious but fragile. We must never forget to cherish it. Thousands of people voted today and we are all here in recognition of our democratic values,” Allin-Khan told supporters after the result was declared.