A 50-year-old Aberdeen University employee, Heather Herbert, has been arrested and charged in connection with social media comments made following the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe. Police Scotland confirmed the development today, 16 July 2026, after initially stating there was no criminality related to the online posts.
The force had received reports concerning an online post on Saturday, 11 July 2026, following Ms Widdecombe's death. While their initial assessment concluded no criminal behaviour, further review led to an investigation and subsequent arrest. A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed that a report will now be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
The university had previously stated that an incident, occurring before the former politician's death was treated as an alleged murder, was under review. The nature of the comments made by Herbert has not been publicly disclosed, but the charges suggest a significant shift in the police's assessment of the situation.
Ann Widdecombe, a prominent figure in British politics and a former Conservative minister who later became a spokeswoman for Reform UK, was found dead at her home in Devon last Thursday, having sustained serious injuries. Her death has been described as a "brutal" and "targeted attack" by Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing.
In a related development, a 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who was initially arrested on suspicion of murder last Saturday, has since been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. Assistant Commissioner Taylor confirmed that a counter-terrorism investigation is currently running in parallel with the ongoing murder inquiry into Ms Widdecombe's death.