Senior figures within the Reform UK party are now receiving 24-hour security following the recent murder of Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and the party's justice spokeswoman. The move comes as party leaders express concerns about potential copycat attacks, with the killer of Widdecombe still at large.
Widdecombe, 78, was found dead in her Dartmoor home on Wednesday. Despite her property being described as highly fortified with numerous security cameras, investigators believe her killer may have entered through a door left ajar due to warm weather. She is thought to have been killed around 12:30 p.m., shortly before a scheduled Zoom appearance on a Channel 5 program. Production staff on the show last heard from Widdecombe at 12:19 p.m. and alerted her agents nearly seven hours later when she failed to appear and was unresponsive to messages.
Devon and Cornwall Police are conducting an extensive investigation into the death, described as having involved severe blunt trauma wounds to the head. A 26-year-old man initially arrested in connection with the murder has been released with no further action. Police have stated they are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry but are withholding further details to avoid compromising the investigation.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visited Widdecombe's home to lay flowers and suggested the murder may have been premeditated, noting that a car was seen on her driveway around the time of the incident. However, he cautioned against speculation regarding the motive. The party has stated it is taking steps to ensure the safety of its members, including providing protection for its eight Members of Parliament and home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf. Scotland Yard is reportedly assessing the security needs of Reform politicians.
Some Reform UK figures have expressed heightened fears for their safety. Nadine Dorries, a former Conservative MP who joined Reform last year, stated she felt genuinely scared and was relocating from her countryside cottage. She wrote that the circumstances of Widdecombe's death, possibly linked to her political views, have amplified the fear among those in right-of-center politics.
Sources close to Robert Jenrick, Reform's Treasury spokesman, indicated he had previously reported concerns about being stalked. A Reform UK source commented that while the motive for Widdecombe's murder remains unknown, it is reasonable to assume that Reform politicians face a high risk.
Widdecombe's family reportedly feels uneasy about the politicization of her death and is concerned about public figures, such as Farage, holding press conferences at the scene. A source close to the family stated they do not want her death to be used for political purposes. Widdecombe, like many politicians, had received death threats and hate mail, some related to her opposition to abortion.
Widdecombe's body was discovered in her kitchen nearly 24 hours after the estimated time of her death by her gardener.
Questions have been raised about the seven-hour delay by production staff in reporting Widdecombe's no-show to her agents, potentially impacting the crucial early hours of the police investigation. ITN, the company producing the show, stated they followed their duty of care protocols. The information has been passed to the police as part of the investigation.