Police under fire over ‘regrettable’ Ann Widdecombe murder statement | UK | News

Devon and Cornwall Police have come under criticism for their handling of the investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe after the case was handed over to the Counter Terrorism Policing Unit.

In a series of press releases issued following news of Ms Widdecombe’s death on Friday, the force had repeatedly said there was nothing to suggest the murder was politically motivated or linked to terrorism.

But at lunchtime on Monday the head of the UK Counter Terrorism Police announced that the national unit had taken over the investigation after officers uncovered “new information and evidence”.

A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who was arrested on Saturday evening on suspicion of murder, was re-arrested on suspicion of carrying out, preparing or instigating acts of terrorism.

Laurence Taylor, head of the Counter-Terrorism Police, said: “We now have new information and evidence to suggest Counter-Terrorism Police are leading the investigation… We are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to determine the motivation for this attack.”

The motive for the alleged murder remains unclear but Devon and Cornwall Police have faced criticism for their previous comments about the possibility that Ms Widdecombe was targeted for her political views.

Ms Widdecombe was Reform UK’s immigration and justice spokeswoman, and police have repeatedly rejected suggestions she may have been deliberately targeted because of her politics.

Jonathan Hall, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said he was “surprised” police had distracted the public from the possibility that the killing was politically motivated.

He said police had “broken one of the golden rules of investigations” by commenting on a live investigation before all the facts were known.

Mr Hall said: “I don’t understand why Devon and Cornwall Police would disabuse the public of the idea that this was a case of terrorism and I don’t know why they didn’t just say they were open-minded about the motivation.

“I think they probably broke one of the golden rules of investigations, which is not to comment on live investigations if new facts come to light. So it’s a bit sad.”

Reform England leader Nigel Farage warned on Saturday that the murder may have been pre-planned.

Party sources also accused the police of “gassing” the public about the suspect’s motive.

Political opponents have previously accused Reform of using Ms Widdecombe’s death as propaganda and said the party was fear-mongering.

Meanwhile, Security Minister Natalie Fleet was forced to apologize after attacking Mr Farage and Reform UK over claims police and parliamentary officials failed to protect the party’s MPs.

In a now-deleted post on X on Sunday night, Ms Fleet wrote: “Nigel Farage and his binmen gang have the same security as the rest of us. I’m sick of the fake outrage.”

“None of them cared that a senior Reform politician in the UK shared my death threats!”

Ms Fleet later withdrew her post following a backlash led by Ashfield’s Reform MP Lee Anderson.

Richard Tice, deputy chairman of Reform England, demanded an apology on Monday after it was revealed the investigation was now considered terrorism-related.

Reform England’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf also criticized police calls for people not to speculate about the motive behind the crime.

He said such warnings meant that people were effectively told to “shut up and accept the establishment narrative”.

Reform England board member Gawain Towler said the conduct of the investigation risked further damaging trust in policing.

He said: “At a time when trust in the police is at an all-time low, this means they are trying to massage public opinion rather than investigate a brutal murder.

“They appear to be manipulative, appearing to ignore something and then bring it back a few days later, and that’s a shame.”

In a statement to the House of Commons, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the circumstances surrounding Ms Widdecombe’s death as “extremely distressing”.

He confirmed the incident was now being treated as terrorism and said the suspect in custody was not recognized under the Government’s Prevent counter-extremism programme.

Following the murder, he also said he was willing to meet Mr Farage to discuss security arrangements, despite not being an MP after he resigned to force a by-election.

He said: “I am aware of the particular concern that the Reform Party will feel today. And of course the party’s leader, Nigel Farage.

“I am delighted to offer Mr Farage a meeting with the head of RAVEC, the independent body within the Home Office that manages the security of people in public life.

“I will also be looking at what security guidance can be provided to former Members of Parliament.”