Heather Herbert, a web developer working at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, has refused to remove a controversial social media post in which she expressed a hostile reaction toward former Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe following reports of Widdecombeโs death. Herbert said she would not delete the message despite receiving widespread criticism, public backlash, and a number of alleged death threats, arguing that removing it would go against her own views on freedom of expression.
The comments were posted by Herbert on Bluesky after news reports emerged about Widdecombeโs death at her home in Dartmoor. At the time Herbert wrote the post, police had not yet announced that they were treating the death as a murder investigation. In the message, she said she viewed the news as โsome good news for onceโ and expressed the hope that Widdecombe had experienced a painful death. She also referred to a scenario involving Widdecombe being restrained and suffering before her death.
The remarks quickly spread online after it became known that authorities were investigating Widdecombeโs death as a suspected murder. Many people criticized Herbertโs comments, arguing that celebrating or appearing to support the suffering of a person who had been killed crossed a line. Others questioned whether someone employed by a university should make such statements publicly.
The University of Aberdeen responded by making clear that Herbertโs comments were her own personal views and did not represent the institution. University officials said they were aware of the situation and had begun reviewing the matter through their established procedures.
Professor Peter Edwards, the universityโs Principal and Vice Chancellor, said the institution does not accept violence or hateful behavior in any form. He described Ann Widdecombe as a significant figure who had served in both Westminster and European political institutions and stated that concerns regarding the social media posts were being treated as a priority.
A university statement later emphasized that the comments shared online were made by an individual member of staff and should not be interpreted as reflecting the position of the University of Aberdeen. Officials added that complaints involving staff members are handled confidentially according to internal processes.
Despite the criticism, Herbert told Metro that she had no intention of deleting the post. She said that while she did not support anyone being murdered, the circumstances of Widdecombeโs death did not change her personal opinion of the politician.
โIโm not a hypocrite,โ Herbert said, explaining that the manner in which Widdecombe died did not alter her previous views. She questioned why her employer should be connected to her personal social media activity, comparing the situation to an employee making an unrelated mistake outside of work.
Herbert also defended her decision by referring to comments made by Widdecombe herself during a 2019 Oxford Union speech. In that speech, Widdecombe argued that people do not have the right to live without ever experiencing offense, insults, or hurt feelings, saying that dealing with disagreement was part of living in society.
Using Widdecombeโs own words as a reference, Herbert argued that criticism of her own statement was part of the same debate about freedom of speech. She said she found it revealing that some of the people criticizing her were also individuals who had previously accused others of being unable to tolerate opposing opinions.
Regarding the wording of her original post about Widdecombe being โhandcuffedโ and โscreaming in agony,โ Herbert explained that it was connected to a past controversy involving Widdecombeโs time as prisons minister. She claimed the comment referred to a dispute over policies involving the use of restraints on pregnant prisoners.
In 1996, Widdecombe defended the use of restraints for prisoners receiving medical treatment, arguing that security measures were necessary because hospitals were not secure environments. She stated in Parliament that some prisoners could attempt to escape and that authorities had a responsibility to prevent such incidents.
Herbertโs comments sparked a significant online reaction, with supporters and critics debating whether her remarks represented legitimate political criticism or an inappropriate response to someoneโs death. Herbert said she believed the backlash demonstrated what she viewed as a contradiction in discussions about free speech, particularly from people who had previously criticized others for objecting to offensive language.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Widdecombeโs death continued. The former Reform UK spokesperson, aged 78, was reportedly found with fatal injuries inside her remote Dartmoor home after she stopped responding to messages and failed to attend a scheduled interview.
Police investigating the case later confirmed that a 28-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, with support from Counter Terrorism Police. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were not seeking anyone else in connection with the investigation at that stage.
As the police inquiry continued, attention remained focused not only on the circumstances surrounding Widdecombeโs death but also on the public reaction that followed. Herbertโs refusal to remove her post continued to generate debate about the boundaries between personal expression, public accountability, workplace expectations, and the responsibilities that come with making statements online.
