Former British minister Ann Widdecombe murdered
Ann Widdecombe, who served as a minister for the Conservatives in the 1990s, was found dead at her home on 9 July with serious blunt force trauma to her head. The police say they do not believe her murder was politically motivated. Widdecombe had recently become active in the right-wing populist Reform UK party and attracted attention with extreme statements, for example when she likened Brexit to slaves rising up against their masters.
A frank politician
The Daily Telegraph describes Widdecombe as an extreme but genuine politician:
“What appealed about Widdecombe most was her total frankness and incorruptibility. Columnists might scoff at her self-confessed virginity and her unfashionably robust opinions, but in an era of spin she earned plaudits for saying exactly what she thought.”
Take leaders' safety seriously
The state is responsible for ensuring politicians' safety, The Spectator insists:
“It would be good if our political parties didn't get into a game of one-upmanship about death threats but saw incidents like this – if there is a political motive (which remains unproven) – as an attack on democracy rather than on themselves. Farage did have some state security, but it was withdrawn; Taser-wielding officers were later offered again, though his team say they don't want to put his life in the hands of security which might be withdrawn again on other people's whims. It seems obvious to me that the safety of leaders who get regular threats should be the responsibility of the government.”