University Staff Member Under Investigation After Posting Chilling Message About Ann Widdecombe’s Death
Aberdeen University has launched an investigation into one of its staff members after a series of social media posts about the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe sparked widespread criticism. The posts, written by university employee and political activist Heather Herbert, were described by many online as deeply disturbing after she said she hoped the former Conservative minister had suffered a painful death.
The university confirmed it is aware of the comments and has begun looking into the matter following complaints and growing public attention. A spokesperson for Aberdeen University said it was aware of the posts circulating online and that the issue was now being investigated.
The controversy began shortly after news broke that Ann Widdecombe had died. Before police confirmed they were treating her death as a murder investigation, Herbert posted a message celebrating the news and wrote that she hoped Widdecombe had experienced an “extremely painful death.” In another post, she added that she hoped the former politician had been “handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony.”
Many people interpreted the “handcuffed to the bed” comment as a reference to a controversial policy supported by Widdecombe during her time as a Home Office minister in the 1990s. At the time, she defended the practice of restraining some pregnant prisoners during childbirth, a policy that attracted significant criticism from campaigners and human rights groups.
Heather Herbert, who works as a web developer and has previously stood as a political candidate for both the Labour Party and the Scottish Greens, quickly faced backlash online. Many social media users, including people who said they had disagreed with Ann Widdecombe’s political views for years, condemned Herbert’s comments as cruel and inappropriate.
One person responded by saying they had never supported Widdecombe’s politics but believed wishing such suffering on another human being was unacceptable. They added that there was already too much hatred in the world and that such comments only made things worse.
Despite the criticism, Herbert did not withdraw or apologise for her remarks. Speaking to Aberdeen University’s student newspaper, The Gaudie, she defended what she had written. She said she did not want anyone to be murdered but insisted she was still glad Widdecombe was dead. Herbert argued that she made the comments before police announced they were investigating the death as murder and claimed she had no power to influence events. She also accused Widdecombe of making life difficult for ordinary people through the policies she supported during her years in public office.
Ann Widdecombe spent more than two decades in politics, serving as a Conservative MP, a Home Office minister and later as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party. Throughout her career, she became known for holding strong conservative views on a number of social issues. She defended Section 28, voted against lowering the age of consent for gay men to match that of heterosexual couples, opposed civil partnerships and later spoke out against same-sex marriage.
The former politician was found dead at her remote home on Dartmoor on Thursday after suffering fatal injuries. Detectives believe the attack happened around lunchtime the previous day. Police have since launched a major murder investigation, and a 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody while officers continue their enquiries.
