{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreidleqaodroa72vztyv2b7rhtll7xtmyymgw5sc77xbx5otmpbgvoi",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:oznbnvgr7dmvddiyvr7dih52/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqd2qgxn7xi2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreiggguncofjk2m26oq4cqjju5jy2grhr2ypfrghkma26hkcfk5vqv4"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/png",
    "size": 2155662
  },
  "path": "/politics/ann-widdecombe-nigel-farage-terrible-reflection-modern-britain",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-10T20:04:15.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Martin Daubney moved to tears as he pays emotional tribute to Ann Widdecombe: 'It's chilling'",
    "Nigel Farage leads tributes to Ann Widdecombe as Keir Starmer lauds 'distinguished' ex-MP's life",
    "My friend Ann Widdecombe: Fearless, fizzing with ideas and a trooper to the very end - Andrew Pierce",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nNigel Farage has branded Ann Widdecombe's death a \"terrible reflection on modern Britain\".\n\nThe former Conservative MP, Brexit Party MEP and government minister was found dead at her Dartmoor property in Devon on Thursday morning.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDevon and Cornwall Police have since confirmed a murder investigation is underway and that a 26-year-old white British national had been arrested.\n\nNo information so far indicates the incident was politically-motivated, the force said in a statement earlier today. However, they confirmed they remained \"open-minded\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Farage has now issued an emotional statement after officers confirmed the arrest and nature of Ms Widdecombe's death.\n\nThe pair go way back as Ms Widdecombe and Mr Farage served as members of the European Parliament together, with the former Tory later becoming the Brexit supremo's party spokeswoman for justice and immigration.\n\nBefore Reform UK, she left her mark on the party's precursor, the Brexit Party, where both politicians campaigned ferociously for the UK to leave the European Union.\n\nIn her final media appearance on Wednesday morning, Ms Widdecombe defended her party's leader over his decision to resign as Clacton MP and trigger a by-election.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nNow, paying tribute to the political veteran after her sudden death, Mr Farage shared he was \"deeply upset\" by the circumstances surrounding her death.\n\nHe said: \"I am deeply, deeply upset by the nature of her death. I’m pleased the police have caught somebody, a 26-year-old man.\n\n“We don’t know what political motives are, whether they exist at all. Was it a burglary gone wrong? We just don’t know. And I’m not going to speculate at this stage. I’m pleased the police are doing their job.\"\n\nMr Farage said that Britain was a \"much poorer\" place without Ms Widdecombe while Reform UK was \"certainly a much worse place\" too.\n\n### LATEST TRIBUTES TO ANN WIDDECOMBE:\n\n\n\n\n  * Martin Daubney moved to tears as he pays emotional tribute to Ann Widdecombe: 'It's chilling'\n  * Nigel Farage leads tributes to Ann Widdecombe as Keir Starmer lauds 'distinguished' ex-MP's life\n  * My friend Ann Widdecombe: Fearless, fizzing with ideas and a trooper to the very end - Andrew Pierce\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Farage said he had expected the political veteran to join him on the campaign trail out in Clacton. \"Sadly, that is not going to happen,\" he said.\n\nHe added: \"Rest in peace, Ann. A remarkable, principled woman, and a truly dreadful way to die, and a terrible reflection on modern Britain.\n\n\"And I do fear that for anybody in public life, or especially the political space, things have become even more dangerous to them.\"\n\nMr Farage has openly spoken about fears over his own security and safety, with the leader often facing public threats.\n\nOver the course of his political career, he has been the victim of unruly attacks on several occasions, from daylight eggings to thrown milkshakes and once finding himself trapped in a pub as aggressors closed in.\n\nAmong the controversy lies a £5million donation from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Chris Harborne, which Mr Farage told journalists was to go toward lifetime security.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe described the importance of his personal security and claimed he would need protection \"until the day that I die\".\n\nMr Farage earlier declared he has \"never been angrier\" after one of his daughter's safety was \"intimidated\" by the mainstream media.\n\nThe Times newspaper published a picture of his daughter's home, with Mr Farage claiming there was no public interest in his daughter or any other family member being \"harangued\" by reporters.\n\nThe leader said: \"I will not tolerate intimidation of my family. I will not tolerate the location of where they live being revealed. I will not tolerate any of my family being endangered because of what I choose to do in public life.\n\n\"So yes, you can ask, am I angry? I've never been angrier in my life.\"\n\nAnnouncing his resignation last week, Mr Farage claimed he was \"subject to constant demonisation by the press for daring to be outside the consensual view on many issues\".\n\nHe added: \"I've been attacked again and again, and I am the most physically and verbally attacked public figure or politician of modern times.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Nigel Farage brands Ann Widdecombe’s death 'terrible reflection on modern Britain'"
}