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Politics

Ann Widdecombe Thread 2

1000 replies

dapsnotplimsolls · 11/07/2026 11:48

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Smeuse · 12/07/2026 17:34

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday morning, the assistant chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police, Matt Longman, said detectives were open-minded about the motive for the killing, but stressed there was no evidence to suggest it had been politically motivated. He also said it was not being treated as terrorism.

allthewa · 12/07/2026 17:35

Viviennemary · 12/07/2026 17:31

For the last time they haven't said that at all. They are keeping an open mind.

Yes. They have.

WhatYouWearing · 12/07/2026 17:40

allthewa · 12/07/2026 17:35

Yes. They have.

No evidence doesn’t mean someone is not guilty. Same applies here. Open mind. Anything is possible. Haven’t YET found any evidence. They just don’t want people to lose their shit. Same story played out time and time again.

augustusglupe · 12/07/2026 17:41

AlwaysRightISwear · 12/07/2026 17:14

It depends on what they mean by political. It could be some special fixation which some would call political but not party political if that makes sense.

I think there could be some truth in this. A woman hating nutter who became obsessed with her for whatever reason.
I would be very surprised if it was just a random burglary and he hadn’t a clue who she was.

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 12/07/2026 17:43

If I told you what I think may have happened, the thread will be pulled.

placemats · 12/07/2026 17:44

Viviennemary · 12/07/2026 17:31

For the last time they haven't said that at all. They are keeping an open mind.

That's not what they said. The police have never said they are keeping an open mind. That's your interpretation of it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8628q3eqdeo

Ann Widdecombe smiles as she looks to the right. She is wearing a blue blazer and a flowery blue and white top.

Police say no suggestion of political motive in Widdecombe killing after new arrest

Police say they are not looking for anyone else after a 28-year-old man was arrested in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8628q3eqdeo

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 12/07/2026 17:45

History often repeats itself in families.

WhatHoJeeves · 12/07/2026 17:47

placemats · 12/07/2026 17:44

That's not what they said. The police have never said they are keeping an open mind. That's your interpretation of it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8628q3eqdeo

'Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said officers remained "open-minded" about a potential motive'

placemats · 12/07/2026 17:51

WhatHoJeeves · 12/07/2026 17:47

'Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said officers remained "open-minded" about a potential motive'

But that has nothing to do with what @Viviennemary is posting.

Open minded about motive and not politically motivated are two different things.

NeverLookInTheMirror · 12/07/2026 17:55

For the people who are so obsessed with needing to prove this is political, the police have said there is no evidence to suggest that this is political or terrorism.

They can’t say there is no evidence because at the moment they haven’t charged anyone. Suggesting what evidence they do and don’t have would prejudice a trial and so the only way they can confirm that it isn’t political is to say that there is no evidence to suggest

But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it wasn’t politically motivated. The fact they have a named individual in custody.

The fact they aren’t looking for anyone else.

These point towards the fact that they do have a motive, but at this point they’re not able to voice it publicly.

chocoluv · 12/07/2026 18:02

NeverLookInTheMirror · 12/07/2026 17:55

For the people who are so obsessed with needing to prove this is political, the police have said there is no evidence to suggest that this is political or terrorism.

They can’t say there is no evidence because at the moment they haven’t charged anyone. Suggesting what evidence they do and don’t have would prejudice a trial and so the only way they can confirm that it isn’t political is to say that there is no evidence to suggest

But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it wasn’t politically motivated. The fact they have a named individual in custody.

The fact they aren’t looking for anyone else.

These point towards the fact that they do have a motive, but at this point they’re not able to voice it publicly.

I agree.

Terrorism/being politically motivated are easy to figure out.

If they’re ruling it out, then it’s likely obvious that there aren’t any politics/terrorism involved.

xabimunich3 · 12/07/2026 18:07

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 12/07/2026 17:45

History often repeats itself in families.

Can you expand on what you mean by that, I'm not being snarky I genuinely don't understand!

dapsnotplimsolls · 12/07/2026 18:07

DM has a lot of new info. Suspect is one of 3 brothers, described as a loner. One brother lives in Devon.

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AlwaysRightISwear · 12/07/2026 18:08

I wonder if there is any chance the brother is the 26 yo arrested initially.

AlwaysRightISwear · 12/07/2026 18:11

NeverLookInTheMirror · 12/07/2026 17:55

For the people who are so obsessed with needing to prove this is political, the police have said there is no evidence to suggest that this is political or terrorism.

They can’t say there is no evidence because at the moment they haven’t charged anyone. Suggesting what evidence they do and don’t have would prejudice a trial and so the only way they can confirm that it isn’t political is to say that there is no evidence to suggest

But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it wasn’t politically motivated. The fact they have a named individual in custody.

The fact they aren’t looking for anyone else.

These point towards the fact that they do have a motive, but at this point they’re not able to voice it publicly.

I don't know that I would agree having a named suspect means it can't be political or semi political, why would it?

But there's probably not much point arguing over it here as it will all come out in the trial.

placemats · 12/07/2026 18:12

dapsnotplimsolls · 12/07/2026 18:07

DM has a lot of new info. Suspect is one of 3 brothers, described as a loner. One brother lives in Devon.

Of course you won't link to this because it's behind a pay wall and the headline is designed solely for monetary purposes to cash in on the appalling killing of Ann Widdecombe.

xabimunich3 · 12/07/2026 18:14

I don't think it's behind a pay wall, I've just read it and I don't have a subscription.

placemats · 12/07/2026 18:15

AlwaysRightISwear · 12/07/2026 18:11

I don't know that I would agree having a named suspect means it can't be political or semi political, why would it?

But there's probably not much point arguing over it here as it will all come out in the trial.

The suspect if/when charged could plead guilty so no trail would then take place.

NeverLookInTheMirror · 12/07/2026 18:16

The DM have no business naming any suspects before they’ve been charged. There are very valid reasons why the police don’t.

Given there have as yet been no charges there are always risks that innocent people could be wrongly named, and pursued.

Remember Chris Jefferey in the Joanna Yeats case? He was vilified by the press and turned out he was innocent but was hounded out of his home as a result.

So let’s not speculate or spread who this suspect is until there are official charges.

EasternStandard · 12/07/2026 18:17

placemats · 12/07/2026 18:12

Of course you won't link to this because it's behind a pay wall and the headline is designed solely for monetary purposes to cash in on the appalling killing of Ann Widdecombe.

I just read it, it’s not subscription

dapsnotplimsolls · 12/07/2026 18:18

DM hasn't named him. Telegraph says he drove 300 miles to Devon with a wooden stick.

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EasternStandard · 12/07/2026 18:20

NeverLookInTheMirror · 12/07/2026 18:16

The DM have no business naming any suspects before they’ve been charged. There are very valid reasons why the police don’t.

Given there have as yet been no charges there are always risks that innocent people could be wrongly named, and pursued.

Remember Chris Jefferey in the Joanna Yeats case? He was vilified by the press and turned out he was innocent but was hounded out of his home as a result.

So let’s not speculate or spread who this suspect is until there are official charges.

They haven’t named him

placemats · 12/07/2026 18:20

EasternStandard · 12/07/2026 18:17

I just read it, it’s not subscription

Clicking on it monetises it for the daily mail and you are therefore supporting speculation about the horrific killing of Ann Widdecombe.

placemats · 12/07/2026 18:22

EasternStandard · 12/07/2026 18:20

They haven’t named him

It's a small village in Dartmoor. If you are personally upset about the death, imagine how Ann's family and friends feel.

dapsnotplimsolls · 12/07/2026 18:23

placemats · 12/07/2026 18:20

Clicking on it monetises it for the daily mail and you are therefore supporting speculation about the horrific killing of Ann Widdecombe.

It's not speculation to say the suspect is one of 3 brothers, who's described as a loner.

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