Nigel Farage has been accused of exploiting Ann Widdecombe’s death as ‘political propaganda’ after saying he believes she was the victim of ‘premeditated murder.’
On Thursday, the former Tory minister was found dead at her home in Dartmoor after sustaining serious injuries.
Police later confirmed they had opened a murder investigation into Widdecombe’s death, and a 28-year-old white British man has since been arrested in Rotherham on suspicion of murder.
Police specifically requested that people not speculate about any motive for Widdecombe’s death, and have said that there was “nothing to suggest” the murder was politically motivated.
Former Tory MP hits out at Farage
On Saturday, Reform leader Farage made a trip to Haytor in Dartmoor to lay a wreath near Widdecombe’s home. Speaking to press there, he said he did not believe her death was a “burglary gone wrong” and said a car had appeared on her drive at around 12.25pm on Wednesday.
Speaking to the Times, former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor, who was a close friend of Widdecombe’s, slammed Farage for ‘exploiting’ her death as ‘political propaganda.’
He told the publication: “Ann Widdecombe was far too dear to her family, friends and former colleagues for her murder to be exploited as political propaganda.
“The police have expressly asked the public not to speculate about the motive. It is therefore deeply disappointing that Nigel Farage has chosen to do precisely that.”
On Sunday, Matt Longman, assistant chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, said speculation about motive is “unhelpful, it doesn’t aid our investigation, and particularly, it’s distressing to the family and friends of Ms Widdecombe.”
Earlier this year, Farage faced similar accusations of exploiting a death with his response to Henry Nowak’s murder.
Responding to Proctor’s criticism, Farage told the Times: “Harvey was very close to Ann, I know he is upset, but I was really careful not to be political.
“I was very clear in what I said. I said I would not speculate as to whether it was someone with a grudge, someone with mental health problems or someone with political problems.
“I also said very clearly that I didn’t believe for one moment that it was a burglary that went wrong and I am 100 per cent certain I am right on that.”
Farage accused of using Widdecombe’s death for ‘PR stunt’
Meanwhile, some on social media have been sharing footage of Farage in Haytor, accusing him of ‘rehearsing’ for the cameras.
A source told the Mail on Sunday that Widdecombe’s family were “very uneasy” about Farage attending the scene of the investigation.
They said the family “don’t want her death hijacked for political purposes.”