Aberdeen University Employee Arrested Over Social Media Posts Celebrating Ann Widdecombe’s Death
Police Scotland has arrested and charged a University of Aberdeen staff member following inflammatory social media posts that celebrated the death of former Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe.
Heather Herbert, 50, a web developer at the university who identifies as a transgender woman (born Scott Herbert, male), was taken into custody after posting messages expressing hope that Widdecombe had suffered an “extremely painful death.”
Background on Ann Widdecombe’s Death
Ann Widdecombe, 78, a longtime Conservative MP for Maidstone and The Weald, former government minister, and later Reform UK spokesperson, was found dead at her home in southwest England on or around July 9, 2026. She had sustained serious injuries. Police described the incident as a targeted attack and are treating it as murder. Counter-terrorism officers were initially involved, and a 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the killing.
News of her death prompted tributes from across the political spectrum, with many describing her as a formidable and outspoken figure in British public life.
The Posts That Sparked Outrage
Shortly after reports of Widdecombe’s death emerged, Herbert posted on the social media platform Bluesky:
“And some good news for once.
I hope it was an extremely painful death.”
In a follow-up post, Herbert added:
“And I hope she was handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony.”
The messages were accompanied by a screenshot of a news report about Widdecombe’s death. They quickly drew widespread condemnation for their apparent glee at a violent death.
Initial Response and Latest Development
In the days following the posts, Police Scotland initially assessed that no criminality had occurred. The University of Aberdeen confirmed it was investigating the comments internally. Herbert, who has previously stood as a Labour candidate in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election for Aberdeen Donside and as a Scottish Greens candidate in a local by-election, faced significant public backlash.
However, following further police inquiries, authorities have now arrested and charged Herbert.
The arrest was reported as breaking news today on our account on X (formerly Twitter), which shared screenshots of Herbert’s original posts along with a photo of the individual.
Context and Reactions
The case has reignited debates about the limits of online speech in the UK, particularly around comments that appear to celebrate violence or death. While some defended the posts as protected expression or “punching up” against a conservative figure, many others — including from across the political spectrum — condemned them as callous and unacceptable.
Herbert’s history as a trans activist and former political candidate has added to the attention surrounding the incident.
Police Scotland has not yet released full details of the charges.
The university has not issued a further public statement on Herbert’s employment status following the arrest.
This development underscores the intense scrutiny public figures and ordinary citizens alike face when commenting on high-profile deaths in today’s polarized online environment. Further updates are expected as the legal process unfolds.
