University of Aberdeen Investigates Staff Member Over Ann Widdecombe Death Comments

Key Points

• The University of Aberdeen has launched a review after a member of staff posted comments online reacting to the death of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe.
• Heather Herbert, understood to work as a web developer at the university, reportedly described the news as “good news” and said she hoped Widdecombe had suffered an “extremely painful death.”
• The comments were made before Police Scotland and Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the death was being treated as a suspected murder.
• Police Scotland has said there was no criminality in relation to the online comments themselves.
• Ann Widdecombe, 78, was found dead on Thursday at her home in Haytor, Devon, having sustained serious injuries.
• A 28-year-old white British man has been arrested in connection with her death.
• Herbert has previously stood as a political candidate for both Labour and the Scottish Greens.
• University of Aberdeen Principal Professor Peter Edwards has publicly condemned the comments and confirmed the matter is being investigated as a priority.
• Widdecombe’s family are being supported by specialist police officers as the investigation continues.
• Widdecombe had a long political career spanning the Conservative Party, the Brexit Party and, most recently, Reform UK.

London (Britain Today News) July 13, 2026 – The University of Aberdeen has said it is treating as “a matter of priority” a review into comments posted online by a staff member reacting to the death of Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP and one-time Reform UK spokesperson, who was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday. The individual named in connection with the posts, Heather Herbert, is understood to work at the university as a web developer and had previously stood as a political candidate for both Labour and the Scottish Greens. Police Scotland has confirmed it received reports over the comments but said there had been no criminality involved.

Who Is Heather Herbert And What Did She Post About Ann Widdecombe?

Heather Herbert, believed to be employed by the University of Aberdeen as a web developer, is reported to have posted on social media that Widdecombe’s death was “good news,” adding that she hoped it had been an “extremely painful death.” The comments were shared online before it emerged that police were treating Widdecombe’s death as an alleged murder.

Herbert is also known for her political activism. She stood as the Labour candidate for the Aberdeen Donside constituency in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. The following year, in 2022, she stood for the Scottish Greens in a council by-election in Aberdeen. Herbert is understood to be a trans activist, though her professional role at the university is separate from her political history.

How Has The University Of Aberdeen Responded To The Comments?

The university moved swiftly to distance itself from the remarks once they came to light. A University of Aberdeen spokesperson said the institution was aware of the posts and was treating the matter with urgency.

As reported by the BBC, a University of Aberdeen spokesperson said:

“The university is aware of social media posts made by a member of staff regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe and is reviewing this as a matter of priority.”

The spokesperson went on to stress that the views expressed did not reflect the position of the institution, stating:

“The comments that have been shared are entirely the individual’s own and do not represent the views of the University of Aberdeen.”

The university also confirmed that any internal complaints regarding staff conduct are dealt with under strict confidentiality. The spokesperson added:

“Complaints into any member of staff are handled confidentially through our established processes.”

This means the university has not disclosed further details of what disciplinary steps, if any, may follow the review, or what timeframe the investigation is expected to take.

What Did The University’s Principal Say About The Comments?

Professor Peter Edwards, Principal of the University of Aberdeen, issued a personal statement condemning the comments and reaffirming the university’s position on hateful conduct. He acknowledged Widdecombe’s standing in British politics before addressing the substance of the complaints raised against the staff member.

As reported by the BBC, Professor Edwards said:

“Ann Widdecombe was a highly-respected figure in both the Westminster and European parliaments.”

He continued by setting out the university’s institutional stance, saying:

“The University of Aberdeen does not tolerate violence or hateful behaviour in any form.”

Professor Edwards confirmed the matter was being treated seriously by university leadership, adding:

“We are aware of the incident and the concerns that have been raised and are looking into the matter as a priority.”

His intervention marks a direct response from the university’s most senior academic officer, rather than solely a statement from a press office, indicating the level of concern the case has generated within the institution.

What Has Police Scotland Said About The Online Comments?

Given that Herbert’s comments were reported to law enforcement, Police Scotland has also issued a statement addressing the matter. Officers confirmed they were aware of reports relating to the posts but stated that no criminal offence had been identified.

As reported by the BBC, a Police Scotland spokesperson said:

“We have received reports relating to a post made online.”

The force clarified that its assessment found there had been no criminality in relation to the comments, effectively closing off the possibility of a criminal investigation into Herbert over the social media posts themselves, even as the university’s internal review continues separately.

How Did Ann Widdecombe Die?

Ann Widdecombe, aged 78, was found dead on Thursday at her home in Haytor, a village on Dartmoor in Devon. She had sustained serious injuries, and the circumstances of her death are now being treated as an alleged murder by investigating officers. The precise nature of the injuries has not been detailed publicly, and enquiries into the full circumstances surrounding her death remain ongoing.

Who Has Been Arrested Over Ann Widdecombe’s Death?

A 28-year-old man, described as white British, has been arrested in connection with the case. Details of the arrest, including the exact charges he may face, have not been fully disclosed as the investigation proceeds. Authorities have not released further information regarding the relationship, if any, between the arrested man and Widdecombe, or the specific location and timing of the incident beyond confirmation that it occurred at her Haytor home.

How Is Ann Widdecombe’s Family Being Supported?

Relatives of the former MP are being supported by specialist police officers, a standard procedure in cases involving sudden and violent deaths, particularly where a murder investigation is underway. This support is typically provided by family liaison officers, who act as the primary point of contact between investigating teams and the bereaved family throughout the enquiry, though it has not been specified which force is providing this support directly.

What Was Ann Widdecombe’s Political Career?

Widdecombe built a long and prominent career in British politics. She served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidstone for 23 years, representing the Kent constituency through several general elections. During her time in Parliament, she held ministerial roles within the government led by Sir John Major, serving between 1994 and 1997, a period during which the Conservative Party held office before its defeat in the 1997 general election.

Widdecombe was widely recognised as one of the more outspoken and distinctive figures within the Conservative benches during her decades in Westminster, known for her forthright views and willingness to speak independently of her party line on various occasions.

Why Did Ann Widdecombe Leave The House Of Commons?

Widdecombe stepped down from the House of Commons in 2010, bringing her period as a sitting MP to a close after more than two decades of parliamentary service. Her departure from frontline domestic politics did not mark the end of her public life, however, as she went on to pursue a variety of media appearances and, later, a return to elected politics at a European level.

What Did Ann Widdecombe Do After Leaving Parliament?

Following her exit from the Commons, Widdecombe became a familiar face on British television. In 2010, the same year she left Parliament, she appeared as a contestant on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, a role that introduced her to a new, wider audience beyond her political supporters. Eight years later, in 2018, she took part in Celebrity Big Brother, finishing as the runner-up in that series.

Her media profile ran alongside a continued involvement in politics. In 2019, Widdecombe joined the Brexit Party, the political movement founded by Nigel Farage in the run-up to the UK’s departure from the European Union. She was elected to represent South West England as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Brexit Party, serving in that capacity from 2019 until 2020, when the UK formally left the EU and British MEPs left the European Parliament.
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What Was Ann Widdecombe’s Most Recent Political Role?

In the years following her time as an MEP, Widdecombe became associated with Reform UK, the party that emerged from the Brexit Party’s political lineage, where she served as a spokesperson. This role kept her a visible and active commentator in British political discourse in the period leading up to her death, continuing a public career that spanned more than three decades across multiple parties and platforms.

What Happens Next In The Case?

Two separate processes are now unfolding following Widdecombe’s death. Devon-based investigators are continuing their murder enquiry, having already made an arrest, with further updates expected as the investigation develops. Separately, the University of Aberdeen’s internal review into Heather Herbert’s conduct remains ongoing, with the institution yet to confirm what outcome or disciplinary action, if any, may follow. Police Scotland’s involvement in relation to the social media comments themselves appears to have concluded, given the force’s statement that no criminality was found, leaving the matter for the university to resolve through its own internal procedures.