Nigel Farage has revealed that he underwent abdominal surgery the day before the killing of Ann Widdecombe.

The Reform UK leader made the disclosure while campaigning in the Clacton by-election, which he triggered after resigning as MP amid scrutiny of his finances. He described the timing as “spooky,” noting that Widdecombe was killed while actively defending him.

The surgery revelation

Farage told The Spectator and The Sun that he went “under the knife” for a routine abdominal procedure under general anaesthetic the day before Widdecombe’s death. He did not disclose the specific medical reason.

“I’m not dying, so that’s ok!” he told The Sun. He added of Widdecombe: “The spooky thing is, of course, she was killed in the middle of defending me. She’d done two interviews that morning. Had another one coming up, all defending me. That’s a very, very strange feeling. I adored her.”

Ann Widdecombe’s killing

Widdecombe, 78, a former Conservative prisons minister and later Reform UK immigration and justice spokeswoman, was attacked at her home in Haytor Vale on Dartmoor at around 12:30pm on 8 July 2026. She was found dead the following day.

Prosecutors later told a court that she was struck on the head 21 times with a hammer while eating lunch in her kitchen. The alleged attacker, Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, is said to have entered through the front door wearing gloves, spent about two minutes inside, and taken her wallet. He has been charged with murder. Counter-terrorism police took over the investigation; the attack has been described as targeted, though the full motive remains under investigation.

Earlier that morning Widdecombe had given media interviews defending Farage over parliamentary inquiries into his finances, including a reported £5 million gift and other support. One interview occurred around 12:10pm—shortly before the time police believe she was attacked.

Political context

Farage resigned as Clacton MP in early July 2026, saying voters rather than the media or parliamentary standards bodies should judge him over the funding questions. The by-election is scheduled for 13 August. Major parties (Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Greens) are not fielding candidates. Reform UK faces separate questions about donations, with the Metropolitan Police examining whether funding rules were circumvented.

Farage has continued campaigning while addressing both the personal health matter and the ongoing fallout from Widdecombe’s death. He has previously described her killing as premeditated rather than a burglary gone wrong and has spoken of her defence of him in the hours before she was attacked.

The surgery disclosure adds a personal layer to an already turbulent period for the Reform UK leader, coming amid the unresolved murder investigation, the by-election fight, and continuing scrutiny of his political funding.