Ann Widdecombe murder latest: Zia Yusuf accuses rival parties of ‘incitement’ following killing of Reform politician

Ann Widdecombe murder latest: Zia Yusuf accuses rival parties of ‘incitement’ following killing of Reform politician Officers say there was ‘some preparation and planning’ behind crime – and are not ruling out foreign state interference - Bookmark A senior Reform UK politician has used a press conference to accuse other politicians of "incitement" with their claims Reform is a threat after Ann Widdecombe’s death. Zia Yusuf, the party’s spokesperson for home affairs, said: “I can tell you about the climate in which she was killed - a relentless narrative from politicians and the media, that Reform UK is a threat. “A threat to be urgently stopped,” he added. “A narrative so relentless it constitutes incitement.” Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Counter Terrorism Policing head Laurence Taylor said Ms Widdecombe’s death was a “targeted attack”, and said whether the suspect in the alleged murder was targeting Reform UK figures will be a “line of investigation”. The Guardian reported that investigators are considering whether left wing, anarchist and single-issue terrorism (LASIT) played a role in the suspect’s alleged motivation, but are keeping an open mind as new material emerges. A 28-year-old man, who was arrested in Rotherham on Saturday on suspicion of murder, has since been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Ann Widdecombe murder investigation: What the media can and can’t report The suspect held on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe continues to be questioned by police. The former Conservative minister, later a Reform UK spokesperson and Brexit Party MEP, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, on Thursday. Counterterrorism police are now leading the investigation into her death after new evidence came to light. A 28-year-old white British man who was arrested on suspicion of Widdecombe’s murder on Saturday has since been rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. But Downing Street stressed the importance of protecting the “integrity” of the investigation. You can read more about what the media can and can’t report below: Ann Widdecombe murder investigation: What the media can and can’t report Man arrested over social media post threatening to shoot Nigel Farage A man has been arrested on suspicion of sending threatening communications to an MP over an X post threatening to shoot Nigel Farage. The suspect was arrested on Tuesday over the social media entry from May, at the time of the local elections, that said: ‘I am going to shoot you in the head if you win’, according to The Telegraph. Mr Farage formally resigned from Parliament last week but was MP for Clacton when the offence allegedly occurred. The Metropolitan Police did not name Mr Farage, but said in a statement: “On Tuesday, July 14 a man in his 20s was arrested by Met officers on suspicion of sending threatening communications to a Member of Parliament. “The arrest relates to a social media post from earlier this year, which was reported to police on Friday, May 8. After receiving the report, detectives submitted an application to a social media platform to gain access to the user’s contact information. “After the relevant information was returned to detectives the man was arrested, with support from local Met officers, at a residential address in south London. After being held in police custody overnight, he has since been bailed pending further enquiries.” Watch: Ann Widdecombe gave interview defending Nigel Farage minutes before killing Politics explained: Should Farage be offered better state protection? Should Farage be offered better state protection after murder of Widdecombe? Watch: Zia Yusuf accuses rivals of ‘incitement’ after Ann Widdecombe killing Burnham demands ‘serious review’ of MP security after Widdecombe death Burnham calls for ‘serious review’ of MP security after Ann Widdecombe murder Lib Dem leader pays tribute to Ann Widdecombe, confessing jealousy at Strictly appearance Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he has “always been slightly jealous of Ann (Widdecombe) for appearing on Strictly Come Dancing”, as he backed the prime minister’s suggestion of a permanent tribute to the former MP in the House of Commons. Ms Widdecombe appeared on the BBC dance show in 2010. Sir Ed said Ms Widdecombe “devoted her life to public service – and her murder was truly horrifying”. Opposite Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions, the Lib Dem leader told the Commons: “I support his campaign now for a memorial in this chamber to her. “Can I also thank the leader of the opposition (Kemi Badenoch) for her tribute to Ann, to remind the whole house and the whole country that we need to remember Ann for the way she lived her life? “I have to make a confession – I’ve always been slightly jealous of Ann for appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.” To laughter from MPs, Sir Keir replied: “He’s clearly angling to go on Strictly Come Dancing, and no doubt he’d be very good at it.” Watch: Starmer calls memorial plaque in Commons in Ann Widdecombe tribute Badenoch pays tribute to Ann Widdecombe who 'always remained part of the Conservative family' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch began Prime Minister’s Questions by paying tribute to former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, who was killed last week. Mrs Badenoch thanked Sir Keir Starmer for his response on Friday. She said: “She was a woman of high principle, profound beliefs with a wicked sense of humour. A wonderful combination of being a serious person who did not take herself too seriously. “She changed her faith from Anglican to Catholic, and from the Conservative Party to the Brexit Party, but she always remained part of the Conservative family. “You may not always have agreed with her, but Ann Widdecombe was a woman who said what she meant, and meant what she said. Hers was an honesty that made our politics better. Her wit and forthrightness sat alongside a deep humanity and decency. “She had wonderful turns of phrase, she said we need less political correctness, and more political courage. She said if we deny our culture, become nothing and everything, that weakens us, and finally she also said it is a truth universally unacknowledged at Westminster that there is life after politics.” Sir Keir replied: “I know that the hurt is keenly felt across all her friends and family, but it is particularly keenly felt by political colleagues in the Conservative Party for many years, and in Reform as well – that’s why one of the first things I did Friday was to phone the leader of the opposition, and leader and deputy leader of Reform to express my condolences and try to act in a cross-party manner, because I knew how much this would hurt them and their parties, and many people in their party.” Starmer tasks officials across government to better 'defend our democracy' amid Ann Widdecombe death Sir Keir Starmer said he has “tasked officials across government to identify the best mechanisms” to better “defend our democracy”. He told the Commons: “I’ve tasked officials across government to identify the best mechanisms for taking this work forward so it can move as quickly as possible. “And I hope the whole House can unite behind that in the months ahead.” Sir Keir also paid tribute to Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, telling him: “You have been instrumental in defending the safety of every member of this House.”