The Member of Parliament who succeeded Ann Widdecombe has called for a memorial to be installed in Parliament to honor the former politician. Helen Grant, who replaced Widdecombe as the MP for Maidstone and the Weald in the 2010 general election, has formally requested support from the Speaker of the House of Commons for the memorial.
Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and a prominent spokeswoman for Reform UK, was found dead at her home in Devon last week. A 28-year-old British man has been arrested on suspicion of her murder. Counter terrorism police have stated that the killing was a "targeted attack" and that investigations are ongoing to determine the motive.
Grant shared a letter detailing her proposal, describing Widdecombe as "a formidable Parliamentarian" and "a committed public servant" who dedicated 23 years to serving her communities. Grant highlighted that Widdecombe's "lasting legacy is clearly demonstrated by the unifying sense of loss which has transcended party lines in recent days."
"So for that reason, and in light of the distressing circumstances of her passing, that we would like to see the House commemorate her with a physical marker of remembrance," Grant wrote. She added that such a memorial would serve as a cross-party acknowledgment of "the threat to our democracy that violence like this brings."
The constituency represented by Widdecombe and subsequently Grant, Maidstone and the Weald, was reconstituted as Maidstone and Malling in 2024. The House of Commons has been approached for comment regarding the memorial proposal.