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Police launch an investigation into Ann Widdecombe death

(337 Posts)
62Granny Fri 10-Jul-26 15:45:03

breaking news on the BBC news site that they are investigating her death.
I didn't always agree with her opinions of her politics but would hate that her death had been tragic .RIP.

Luckygirl3 Sun 12-Jul-26 16:54:48

That really does sound premedidated and targeted.

eazybee Sun 12-Jul-26 16:49:51

The suspect who was arrested in Rotherham drove 300miles to Haytor on the day Ann Widdecombe was murdered. He was recorded as having left the property at 7am and was seen putting a large wooden stick in the car. He is thought to have learning difficulties.Locals said they had seen a red car parked 'inappropriately' near to the Widdecombe house.
DT 4.05.today.
Ann Widdecombe joined the Brexit Party after retiring as MP in 2010, then became a spokesman for Reform, and knew Farage since they were MEPs.

Cossy Sun 12-Jul-26 16:37:19

AGAA4

Cossy I have never seen you be either uncaring or disrespectful.

Thank you flowers

Sadly some will disagree with you, but I do strive to be balanced, as I think the vast majority on here do too.

AGAA4 Sun 12-Jul-26 16:26:36

Cossy I have never seen you be either uncaring or disrespectful.

Oreo Sun 12-Jul-26 16:24:06

And I hope it really isn’t a political grudge, there’s too much violence directed at MP’s as it is.

Cossy Sun 12-Jul-26 16:22:52

AGAA4

This thread is about a 78 year old woman being brutally murdered in her own home. Despite how anyone feels about her politics her violent death should be the focus here.
Best to leave disagreements aside.

Yes, of course, you’re right.

I, for one, would apologise to anyone on this thread if they feel I’ve been uncaring or disrespectful.

Happy to put my personal opinions aside and hope this vile person is apprehended very soon.

Oreo Sun 12-Jul-26 16:22:42

Yes let’s get back to the topic in hand.
I hope for everyone’s sake this case is solved quickly.

Oreo Sun 12-Jul-26 16:21:18

Rafichagran
Who are these Queen Bees you say? Well you tell us? It’s a total nonsense and figment of the imagination.
Each poster has their own opinion and there’s no bullying on here.

AGAA4 Sun 12-Jul-26 16:20:09

This thread is about a 78 year old woman being brutally murdered in her own home. Despite how anyone feels about her politics her violent death should be the focus here.
Best to leave disagreements aside.

Oreo Sun 12-Jul-26 16:17:54

Cossy

Oreo

NF is obviously very upset and concerned on a personal level,
What does it matter if he knows a bit more than the man in the street about this incident.He will have had conversations with the Police.

All of that is perfectly acceptable.

However neither Farage, nor anyone else, should be sharing police information publicly.

We don’t know what Police have said to NF or if they have said to him if he can share anything.In fact we don’t know anything really.
It may be due to someone who hates Reform which is why police are protecting certain MP’s or if that’s just a sensible precaution to take until the motive is known.

rafichagran Sun 12-Jul-26 16:06:25

Greyfur you have the right to your opinion, and being told to cut it out was rude and ignorant.

Who are these Queenbees? When are posters going to learn that we are all equal on gransnet and everyone has the right to a opinion. If there is a group of people who If you disagree with them the cronies get involved it's not Queenbee it is bullying. Don't worry about them they are just posters like you. I would pay these silly people no heed.

As it happens I would not speculate about Nigel Farage. I don't agree with his party or his politics.

Cossy Sun 12-Jul-26 15:57:53

TerriBull

I posted this on one of the other threads regarding this awful murder, but worth repeating because an illustration of just how hateful this element of the trans lobby are. Over on MN a link to X, Heather Herbert transwoman crowing over AW's murder, "I hope it was painful" What a vile person, I hope they get a visit from the police, but I won't hold my breath.angry

Honestly? That’s truly disgusting!

Cossy Sun 12-Jul-26 15:56:50

Fallingstar

I admire Anne as I admired Margaret Thatcher, for navigating a mainly male political bear pit and staying strong and sticking to their guns rather than just bowing down. I don’t agree with them on many things but I recognise their hard won place in the world of politics.
Have no desire to discuss NF. Let’s keep our focus on Anne and on what those who were close to her must be suffering now. Cannot begin to imagine 💐

Well said 👏👏 flowers

Cossy Sun 12-Jul-26 15:56:09

TerriBull

I've come to the conclusion there isn't much to choose from the neo Nazi end of the far right, very distinct from the right as is the hard left as opposed to left leaning. Both extremes encompass some awful, awful people. The far left love to dress up their own intolerance with the bullshit "be kind" mantra. The left, who generally pride themselves on high ideals, need to take a long hard look at their compatriots who harbour a staggering amount of intolerance veering into hatred. I didn't agree with many of Ann's views on gay marriage, abortion etc. There are pov on both the left and right who I don't agree with. I would never wish any of them harm. Disagreements are part of life.

You’re right, extremism on either side of the political spectrum is not acceptable and not what most of us want to read.

I’m left leaning, I haven’t celebrated AW death, in fact I’m appalled at it and comments on other sites. I don’t follow X or digital spy or Reddit as I’m shocked at some of the toxic vitriolic comments. They are not just thrown around about famous people either.

Fallingstar Sun 12-Jul-26 15:51:16

I admire Anne as I admired Margaret Thatcher, for navigating a mainly male political bear pit and staying strong and sticking to their guns rather than just bowing down. I don’t agree with them on many things but I recognise their hard won place in the world of politics.
Have no desire to discuss NF. Let’s keep our focus on Anne and on what those who were close to her must be suffering now. Cannot begin to imagine 💐

Cossy Sun 12-Jul-26 15:44:21

“valdali

Fallingstar
Cumbrianmale56
I have never read so many hate filled posts than ones I saw about Ann Widdecombe on X and Digital Spy. Yes she didn't agree with gay marriage, she was deeply religious, she held views that seemed outdated, but so do millions of other people. There is no way a 78 year old woman deserved to die in this way.
The reason I don’t go on other social media sites is because of hate filled posts.
Of course her family will not be looking at such dreadful remarks thank goodness.
It's worrying isn't it?
All these people who are just straining at the leash to find something to criticise, or someone to unleash vitriol at (even if they've just died in a horrible way).
Have people always been like this, just the social mores & two world wars made us seem gentler & more civil to others? Or is the relative anonymity of social media leading to people discovering that, actually, they really get a kick (& followers) out of being callous & critical & holier-than-thou?“

I truly hope none of you think anyone on this site is like this?

I don’t like Farage, I didn’t care for Anne Widdecombe, but I’d never ever wish death on anyone, especially not a horribly violent death on an elderly woman living alone.

Not only do I hope they catch and punish those responsible, I really pray that AW died quickly and as painlessly as possible.

I cannot comprehend how scared she must have been and I think her family and friends must be going through hell.

MartavTaurus Sun 12-Jul-26 15:42:43

Silvergirl

You've just had a Queen Bee pile on Greyfur. They like to twist and misinterpret your words in order to vent their spleen. Don't worry about it.

And, please say, who exactly is Queen Bee Silvergirl? Me, because I was the first to respond to Greyfur's post in a helpful, polite manner? at 9.06. I did not jump down her throat or bully her in any way. I did not even criticise the tone of her post.

I am reporting this now, because we know exactly what happened to another poster who was unfairly accused of bullying and twisting words.

Cossy Sun 12-Jul-26 15:40:10

Oreo

NF is obviously very upset and concerned on a personal level,
What does it matter if he knows a bit more than the man in the street about this incident.He will have had conversations with the Police.

All of that is perfectly acceptable.

However neither Farage, nor anyone else, should be sharing police information publicly.

Cossy Sun 12-Jul-26 15:36:17

greyfur

Fed up with being bullied. It's terribly sad what happened.

Things just seem to have gone to pot.

Please just ignore those ignorant enough to jump down your throat, there’s only a few on here and if you try and point out their rudeness, either they or one of their cronies jump at you.

I do think though, sometimes people misread or misunderstand some comments, and then have one-jerk re-action. Nuances are much more difficult to “get” in online posts.

I’m afraid I’m guilty of this at times, but would be horrified if anyone considered me a bully.

valdali Sun 12-Jul-26 15:35:56

Fallingstar

Cumbrianmale56

I have never read so many hate filled posts than ones I saw about Ann Widdecombe on X and Digital Spy. Yes she didn't agree with gay marriage, she was deeply religious, she held views that seemed outdated, but so do millions of other people. There is no way a 78 year old woman deserved to die in this way.

The reason I don’t go on other social media sites is because of hate filled posts.
Of course her family will not be looking at such dreadful remarks thank goodness.

It's worrying isn't it?
All these people who are just straining at the leash to find something to criticise, or someone to unleash vitriol at (even if they've just died in a horrible way).
Have people always been like this, just the social mores & two world wars made us seem gentler & more civil to others? Or is the relative anonymity of social media leading to people discovering that, actually, they really get a kick (& followers) out of being callous & critical & holier-than-thou?

Cossy Sun 12-Jul-26 15:32:26

greyfur

The point I was trying to make was how did Nigel Farage have information. Surely that's the job of the police.

It's nothing to do with loathing.

It's very sad what happened.

Please don't tell me to "cut it out"

I’m pretty sure I read (though I really could be very wrong) that he was driven or drove down to leave flowers as they were close colleagues/friends.

No doubt neighbours came out and thoughts were exchanged.

I’m not sure Farage hater or lover, anyone of us think he had anything to do with this horrific event. flowers

Silvergirl Sun 12-Jul-26 15:23:55

You've just had a Queen Bee pile on Greyfur. They like to twist and misinterpret your words in order to vent their spleen. Don't worry about it.

Oldnproud Sun 12-Jul-26 15:19:50

greyfur

Fed up with being bullied. It's terribly sad what happened.

Things just seem to have gone to pot.

I do think that you have been very unfairly jumped on over this, and i can imagine how it has made you feel.

Apart from anything else, it sounds like you were accused of being rude for referring to Farage by his surname (yet the person who used it immediately before you did wasn't criticised for it), even though use of surname alone is common practice in political discussions, even when naming people one respects. The responses you got sounded both unfair and nasty to me.

Please try not to let it put you off posting.

greyfur Sun 12-Jul-26 14:15:35

Fed up with being bullied. It's terribly sad what happened.

Things just seem to have gone to pot.

Oldnproud Sun 12-Jul-26 13:52:02

Wyllow3

Silvershadow

She had CCTV and a ring type doorbell. They probably know who but can’t say. Nigel Farage seems to know a bit more as he claims a car was on her driveway minutes before. He says it’s premeditated.

That makes sense what I thought CCTV/doorbell.

Farage doesnt. How does he get insider information - and should he be sharing it!

These, right greyfur?