Another probe is launched into ex-Labour candidate who said she hoped ‘murdered’ Ann Widdecombe suffered an ‘extremely painful death’
Another investigation has been launched into a former Labor candidate who celebrated the death of Ann Widdecombe and prayed she would suffer an ‘extremely painful death’.
Heather Herbert, a transgender web developer at the University of Aberdeen, basked in the ‘good news’ about the former Tory MP’s death in a disgusting post on Bluesky on July 10, a day after Ms Widdecombe was found dead with serious injuries at her cottage in Haytor, Dartmoor.
Both the police and his employer launched an investigation after citizens heard the comments made before the news of the murder investigation emerged.
Police Scotland initially said the information had been assessed and a finding of ‘no criminality’ was found.
But in an update this afternoon, a spokesman for the force said: ‘We have received reports of a post made online on Saturday 11 July 2026.
‘Further investigations are being carried out following further assessment.’
The Scottish Greens also launched an investigation today and confirmed they had launched an investigation into Ms Herbert’s involvement with the party.
The activist joined the Scottish Greens in late 2021 after previously being a member of the Scottish Labor Party.
In a post on Bluesky last Thursday, Ms Herbert shared Sky News’ first story about Ms Widdecombe’s death, writing: ‘And some good news this time. I hope it was an extremely painful death.’
In another post he added: ‘I hope he’s handcuffed to the bed while he screams in pain.’
Former Scottish Labor candidate Heather Herbert, a web developer at the University of Aberdeen, was amused by the news of Ann Widdecombe’s death online
Ms Herbert said she hoped the 78-year-old former Conservative MP died a painful death
Ms Herbert later doubled down and insisted she was “delighted” [Ms Widdecombe] was dead’ – even after the deeply harrowing details of the 78-year-old’s murder emerged.
The Far Left has been condemned for trying to use Ms Widdecombe’s death to score political points.
Piers Morgan described the response as ‘despicably cruel, heartless and abusive’ and said it reminded him that ‘the least kind people in the world are ironically those on the #BeKind woke Left’.
Miss Widdecombe was found dead by her gardener at her country home in Haytor, Dartmoor, at around 11.40am on Thursday after suffering serious injuries.
A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday.
Specialized police officers of the Anti-Terror Branch Directorate took over the investigation into the death of the former minister yesterday.
The former politician is believed to have been the victim of a ‘targeted attack’ and police officers are still investigating any ‘motivation’ behind his death, investigating officer Laurence Taylor confirmed today.
Ms Herbert doubles down on comments even after murder investigation becomes public
Miss Widdecombe was murdered at her home on Wednesday last week and was discovered 24 hours later
Mr Taylor said: ‘We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation and the motivation behind this attack.
‘I do not wish to comment further on this motivation or preparation at this stage of our investigations.’
He added: ‘We are aware that there has been some preparation and planning in terms of preparation and planning. ‘I don’t want to go into detail about the scope of this at this stage.’
Student newspaper The Gaudie contacted Miss Herbert on Saturday following her online posts and she replied: ‘I don’t want to see anyone killed but I’m still glad he’s dead.
‘I’m not a hypocrite. I wrote this before the murder investigation began.
‘I am nothing. I have no strength to do anything. Ann Widdecombe did it and made ordinary people’s lives hell.’
The University of Aberdeen quickly distanced itself from his comments, with chancellor Iona Fyfe saying: ‘I would like to condemn any comments that glorify violence against any person.’
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Edwards said the university had a zero-tolerance approach to ‘violent or hateful behaviour’ and assured that comments would be investigated ‘as a matter of priority’.
