NIGEL Farage is facing criticism after speculating over the death of former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe amid an ongoing police murder investigation.
Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday morning after sustaining serious injuries.
A 28-year-old white British man was arrested on suspicion of murder in Rotherham, 260 miles away, on Saturday evening.
Reform UK leader Farage is facing criticism for remarks he made to the press in Devon after paying tribute to Widdecombe on Saturday.
He told reporters he believed the attack on her was “premeditated murder” and said a car had appeared on her drive at around 12.25pm on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it pays at this moment in time to speculate,” Farage also said.
Widdecombe was a former Brexit Party MEP and a Reform UK spokesperson.
Matt Longman, Assistant Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, urged against speculation.
He said: “We are aware of online and public speculation, particularly with regards to motive.
“Again, I urge people not to share or engage with that speculation – it’s unhelpful, it doesn’t aid our investigation, and particularly, it’s distressing to the family and friends of Miss Widdecombe.”
Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor also criticised Farage, telling The Times: “The police have expressly asked the public not to speculate about the motive.
“It is therefore deeply disappointing that Nigel Farage has chosen to do precisely that.”
The Guardian quoted an anonymous Labour minister who said: “We all want the police to have the space to do their job. MPs gobbing off rarely helps the police during an investigation.”
David Gauke, the former Conservative justice secretary, told the newspaper that people in public life “should know better than to speculate publicly”.
Responding to Proctor’s criticisms, Farage told The Times: “Harvey was very close to Ann, I know he is upset, but I was really careful not to be political.
“I was very clear in what I said. I said I would not speculate as to whether it was someone with a grudge, someone with mental health problems or someone with political problems.
“I also said very clearly that I didn’t believe for one moment that it was a burglary that went wrong and I am 100% certain I am right on that.”
