Ann Widdecombe, whose death is currently the subject of a murder investigation, previously spoke openly about receiving death threats during her political career, but always insisted on ignoring them. The late former Conservative MP and Daily Express columnist said she told her aides that any letters or abusive messages delivered to her home or office when she was in Parliament should simply be thrown away.
Widdecombe's Attitude Toward Threats
Speaking at the Best Heroes Awards 2025 at The Waldorf Hilton in London last October, the Brexit campaigner said: “I remember I used to get death threats from time to time. We all did. And my staff would say, shall we tell the police? And I'd say, put it in the bin. Because if the IRA are going to do it, they're not going to tell you in advance, they're just going to do it.”
“As they did with Airey Neave,” she added, referring to an advisor to Margaret Thatcher who was assassinated in 1979. “You know, they just do it. So I just said, put it in the bin. And I still take that attitude. I do know that we're in a slightly different world. I do know that. But I think it's crucial that MPs and their constituents intermingle freely.”
MPs Must Not Be Afraid
She insisted that MPs should never be afraid to walk around their town or be in their home, and referred to her former colleague and “best friend in Parliament” Sir David Amess, who was tragically murdered in 2021. Ms Widdecombe said she knew Sir David and his family well, and “I know, and I said this to his widow, who agreed with me, that he would never want his death used as a reason to distance MPs from their constituents.”
“His belief, and it is still my belief, that an MP should be able to walk through the town on a Saturday afternoon, talk to their constituents. Absolutely. So I feel very strongly about that,” she added. “In my day, it wasn't fundamentalist Islam. In my day, it was the IRA. And I suppose I had a slightly faithless attitude.”
No Link to Current Investigation
There is no suggestion that these threats are in any way related to her death, which remains under investigation. In a more light-hearted moment, the veteran politician also seemed to confirm she had some security cameras at her home, saying: “I've never gone in for the big gates and the electronics and all that nonsense. So, no, I mean, anybody could come in and steal a gnome. I would pick them up on my cameras so if anybody wants to steal a gnome they'd better mask up.”
Though the extent of the security measures at her home is not known, any security footage will be of great interest to Devon and Cornwall Police officers looking into the circumstances surrounding her death. The sad news was confirmed by her management on Friday after the 78-year-old was found lifeless inside her Devon home on Thursday.
Murder Investigation Launched
Earlier today, the force said a murder investigation had been launched into the “suspicious death” of Ms Widdecombe, who police say was found with “serious injuries”. They subsequently announced that a 26-year-old white British man had been arrested on suspicion of murder. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said the force is “open-minded” about the investigation, and the incident “is not being treated as terrorism” and there is “no information” to suggest it was politically motivated. The force has appealed for anyone with relevant information to come forward as investigations continue.
