The man accused of killing British MP Jo Cox has appeared in court in London.

Mrs Cox (41) died after being shot and stabbed in the street outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, on Thursday.

Thomas Mair is charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

He appeared via videolink at the Old Bailey from Belmarsh Prison before Mr Justice Sweeney on Monday afternoon.

The 52-year-old from Birstall sat with his arms folded through most of the hearing, flanked by a guard on either side of him.

He wore beige trousers and a white long-sleeved T-shirt and spoke only to confirm who he was.

The defendant was asked by the court clerk if he was Thomas Mair, to which he replied: "Yes I am."

There was no application for bail from his lawyer and Mair was remanded in custody following the hearing which lasted just a few minutes.

Proceedings were adjourned for a preliminary hearing on June 23rd.

The case is being heard under the terrorism protocol, although the charges Mair is facing are not terror charges.

This is because what he is accused of fits the template of the UK Terrorism Act - the use of violence designed to influence the British government or to intimidate the public for the purposes of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.

Floral tributes for Jo Cox who was killed on Thursday | Image: Danny Lawson / PA Wire/Press Association Images

Meanwhile British politicians have returned to Westminster to pay tribute to the Labour MP.

Commons Speaker John Bercow agreed to the recall of the House to allow members to commemorate a colleague described as "perfect" by her family.

In a break with tradition, MPs from different parties sat together to hear the speeches before pairing up with opposition party members to walk to St Margaret's Church for a service.

Her husband Brendan and their two childrenwere in the gallery to hear the tributes.