A relative of the suspect in the alleged murder of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe questioned whether Nigel Farage could be at risk of attack, according to Instagram posts seen by The Sun. The posts, dated July 8 – the same day Widdecombe is believed to have died – show the relative agreeing with another user that the Reform UK leader should hold in-person surgeries ahead of the Clacton-on-Sea by-election. However, the family member also raised concerns about his safety in face-to-face meetings with voters in his former constituency.
The relative, who has not been named, had previously posted a series of comments about US President Donald Trump, describing him as a 'psychopath' and questioning his intelligence. In one post, she appeared to call for his death, stating that Trump would be able to comprehend a bullet. There is no suggestion that the relative knew of Widdecombe's death at the time of the posts, and it is not believed she was close to the suspect.
Widdecombe's death and investigation
Ann Widdecombe, 78, was found dead in her home in Dartmoor on July 9. Police believe she died from serious injuries sustained in a 'targeted attack' the previous day. A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor described the attack as 'brutal' but stopped short of declaring it a terrorist incident. 'I don't want to rule anything out,' he told reporters.
Farage's security concerns
Nigel Farage has frequently spoken about fears for his safety. After resigning his seat in Clacton to run again against 33 candidates – including Count Binface and three members of the Monster Raving Loony Party – he said he would need security 'for the rest of his life' following a series of alleged breaches. 'For daring to be outside the consensual view on many issues, I've been attacked again and again,' he said. 'I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times. Yes, you will know of some of the incidents, milkshakes thrown in my face, placards bashed over my head. But let me promise you, you only know about a fraction of the number of times that I've been assaulted.'
Farage expressed gratitude to crypto billionaire Christopher Harbourne, who 'gifted' him £5,000,000 in 2024 – a sum the politician did not declare. 'I am going to need security for the rest of my life, and I cannot even tell you how grateful I am to Christopher Harbourne, because now I will never, ever need to worry about whether I've got the resource,' Farage said.
Farage's financial scrutiny
Farage's finances have come under scrutiny, with critics suggesting the undisclosed donation may have contributed to his resignation. However, Farage insisted he had 'done nothing wrong' and had not broken the law. 'I have not misused public money, and you know, for the first two years of being an MP, my personal MP expenses are zero,' he said. He added that Parliament's rules allow members to conduct their personal lives as they wish, and he had received good legal advice. 'Though it would seem from the last couple of years, from the way I've been treated, that the press would rather our members of Parliament had no assets and no wealth at all,' he concluded.
