This reversal almost makes your head spin like you were Linda Blair's double in The Exorcist or something.
OUCH
The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing has now confirmed Ann Widdecombe was murdered in a targeted attack.
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) July 14, 2026
It is also being investigated as terrorism and politically motivated.
The police initially got it wrong by dismissing them. Always speculate. pic.twitter.com/doqMTtw4v7
Good grief. What a revolting farce.
In a dramatic escalation, counter terrorism officers yesterday took over the investigation into the killing of the former Tory minister. It came after the discovery of Russian communist literature and other items of political ideology at the home of the suspected killer.
And it marked a U-turn after the local force, Devon and Cornwall Police, spent days insisting that there was no link to terrorism. Officers, it is understood, are probing whether the 78-year-old may have been bludgeoned to death in a premeditated attack on Reform UK.
They are looking at whether a self-radicalised loner may have considered the pensioner an 'easy target' in comparison to more prominent party figures, such as Nigel Farage, who have security.
Last night, Reform accused Devon and Cornwall police of misleading the public in the initial stages of the investigation.
Senior officers were under pressure to explain why they so publicly ruled out terror or a political motivation.
When the bloodied body of the former prisons minister was found on Thursday morning, officers initially focused on a theory that she had disturbed a burglar at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, even though nothing had been taken from the £600,000 property.
As I explained in my post yesterday, the United Kingdom lost one of its fiercest, most outspoken and eloquent champions of life and freedom last Thursday, when the body of former Member of Parliament and force to be reckoned with, Ann Widdecombe, was found by her gardener in a pool of blood in her isolated hideaway.
Devon and Cornwall police were excoriated for going out of their way to first blame natural causes - a fall or medical event - and then posit a burglary interruption when they had to admit that, yes, the poor woman had been a victim of foul play.
BUT LET'S NOT HAVE ANY SPECULATION FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY
...Devon and Cornwall Police waited more than 24 hours to announce a murder investigation, before Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said on Friday night: 'The incident is not being treated as terrorism.'
When asked if Ms Widdecombe had been targeted because of her politics, he replied: 'No… it's early stages of the investigation. I've got no information to believe that it is a politically motivated crime.'
...As the force announced Saturday's arrest, Mr Longman again denied any suggestion of a political motive. He said: 'There is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident. At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that it was politically motivated.'
That was all blown to bits when the investigation by the bumbles and fumbles, who'd already arrested and released one poor sod, was suddenly taken over by the terrorism unit itself. And the announcement of the arrest of a Tweedle Dee-sized suspect from another city - Rotherham - some 270 miles away from Ms. Widdecombe's remote home, added fuel to a raging speculative fire.
I would be failing my mostly American reasership if I didn't mention how UNUSUAL it is to travel from Rotherham in So Yorkshire to where Ann Widdecombe lived -- Dartmoor.
— vbspurs (@vbspurs) July 14, 2026
300 miles (almost 6 hrs) is extremely bizarre for a casual trip for any Briton.
With today's sparse but interesting revelations, the authorities have acknowledged that the poor woman was the victim of a targeted hit by a person who had foreign-state materials, and certainly had an interest in whatever those entities had to say.
...Two days after the murder, detectives arrested a local labourer in error, before later detaining a 28-year-old man 270 miles away in Rotherham on Saturday night. The Mail has learnt that items of varying political ideology, including Russian material, have been found at the suspect's home and on electronic devices.
...Counter terrorism police are investigating whether the 'lone wolf' targeted Ms Widdecombe due to her political views, which she frequently expressed during regular appearances on TV and radio defending Reform as the party's immigration and justice spokesman. The former Strictly contestant was well known for her beliefs, including opposition to abortion and gay rights.
Counterterrorism police are also refusing to rule out any involvement by bad foreign actors at this stage, which I find hugely intriguing.
What was in that guy's house?
Detectives investigating the death of veteran politician Ann Widdecombe have refused to rule out the involvement of foreign state actors in her killing.
Police said on Tuesday it had become “clear” that the 78-year-old had been killed in a “targeted attack” but did not expand on the possible motivation behind it.
When asked foreign state interference could be ruled out, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, told reporters at a briefing at Scotland Yard: “I don't want to rule anything out at this stage.”
He said the investigation came amid a backdrop of “unprecedented demands” on counterterrorism policing and a “complex and increased threat picture”.
They are looking at everything. It's quite disturbing considering how every other attack in England has gone so far, investigation-wise.
...On Tuesday night, The Guardian reported that investigators were considering whether leftwing, anarchist and single-issue terrorism played a role in the suspect’s alleged motivation.
...When asked if the alleged murder was aimed at Reform UK, Taylor said he would not comment, according to the BBC.
Perhaps we'll have some sort of answers soon, God willing. The higher echelons of British law enforcement seem to be actually working on this.
Police say Ann Widdecombe killed in 'targeted attack' as motive investigated https://t.co/JeLnMCyZVB
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) July 14, 2026
Let me just add that while AWFLs are awful, in case you haven't noticed, trans activists are truly garbage.
Ann Widdecombe was bludgeoned to death and spent her final moments in abject terror. Her family are devastated and a murder investigation remains active.
— Suffragent (@Suffragent_) July 11, 2026
Yet @PeterTatchell - a 'human rights advocate' - celebrated her demise with utter glee. Deport him back to Australia ASAP. pic.twitter.com/L1MGhQLooT
They can't handle life, and it's not our duty to indulge their hate-filled mental breakdowns.
I hope someone is taking care of Ann's cats.
Ann Widdecombe loved her cats. Sooty and Sweep, Pugwash and Carruthers, Arbuthnott, Aloysius. “I think cats should have hilarious names,” she insisted.🐱 pic.twitter.com/z6VjWpgCG6
— Adrian Hilton (@Adrian_Hilton) July 13, 2026
Let this always be how Ann Widdecombe is remembered.
“Nobody has the right to live their lives being protected from offense or from insults or from hurt feelings. It is an occupational hazard of living in society.”
— The Rabbit Hole (@TheRabbitHole) June 20, 2026
— Ann Widdecombe pic.twitter.com/X3DMjVbK0t
Snowflakes be damned.
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