Ann Widdecombe, the Reform UK spokeswoman, gave her final interview just minutes before she was killed, defending party leader Nigel Farage and denouncing politics as a 'game of personal destruction'. The interview was recorded on Wednesday, July 8, between 11:55 AM and 12:10 PM for the Christian radio station TWR UK. Police believe she was murdered at her Dartmoor home around 12:30 PM, only 20 minutes after the interview concluded.
Interview Content and Timing
In the interview, Widdecombe defended Farage over a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. She stated, 'Let's bring an end to it, let's bring this to a head, let's put it to the people to see what they think of all of this.' She added that there had been 'a game now for a very long time, a game of personal destruction, not just for Nigel, for lots and lots of politicians that face this.'
Widdecombe also criticized the parliamentary register of interests, saying it had 'departed from its original purpose' and become a tool for partisan attacks. She noted, 'It's become a game so that people try to see, you know, what you might not have declared, you might have decided you didn't have to declare. Other people, like I did, will declare every last darn thing, even though it's complete nonsense.'
Circumstances of the Murder
The interview was not broadcast live and was intended to air later that week. However, with permission from Widdecombe's family, it has now been released. James Maidment-Fullard, the interviewer for TWR, told Times Radio that he was shocked when he learned of her death. He recalled, 'I was looking at my phone when the alert came in on Friday at 6:30 in the morning, and I just remember staring at the alert thinking that there'd been some kind of mistake. As the story developed and the timeline became clearer, I was just deeply saddened by it. To be honest, I'm just still trying to come to terms with it all.'
The interview appears to have been recorded in the library of Widdecombe's bungalow in Haytor, Devon. She wore the same outfit she had on TalkTV at 8 AM that morning. A 28-year-old man from Rotherham has been arrested on suspicion of her murder and of preparing or instigating a terrorist act.
Counter Terrorism Investigation
Counter Terrorism police now believe the killing may have been a politically motivated attack. The suspect was re-arrested on Monday on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. Head of National Counter Terrorism Police, Laurence Taylor, stated, 'Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation. We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack. Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police.'
Taylor also thanked local communities and the media for their support and patience, urging continued cooperation as the investigation proceeds.
