Counter-terrorist police chief says 'new evidence' led to his officers taking charge of Widdecombe investigation
Laurence Taylor, head of national Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), issued a statement regarding CTP assuming leadership of the investigation into the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation.
We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.
Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police.
We would like to thank local communities, the wider public and the media for their ongoing support and patience, and would ask them to continue to support us in the next stage of the investigation.
Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, stated that issues relating to the murder are not yet sub judice as no one has been charged. He emphasized that there is an ongoing criminal investigation and urged MPs to avoid statements that might prejudice a trial.
Jesse Norman, the shadow leader of the Commons, criticized Alan Campbell for the announcement, saying Campbell should be "deeply embarrassed". Norman noted that the change in timetable means MPs will debate the Hillsborough law bill without sufficient time to consider amendments.
Commons leader Alan Campbell confirms elections bill postponed to pass Hillsborough law this week
Alan Campbell, leader of the Commons, announced that MPs will address the remaining stages of the public office (accountability) bill, also known as the Hillsborough law, tomorrow.
This decision postpones the debate on the representation of the people bill, commonly referred to as the elections bill.
Campbell stated that the business schedule for the rest of the week remains unchanged. The House will rise for the summer recess on Thursday and return on Tuesday, 1 September.
The public office (accountability) bill must still pass through the House of Lords before becoming law. Keir Starmer aims to have the bill passed in the Commons before leaving No 10.
Tories call for Commons to sit next Monday for new PM questions before recess
Alan Campbell was expected to announce the postponement of the representation of the people bill report stage and third reading debate originally scheduled for tomorrow. However, the Conservative Party requested that the summer recess be delayed by at least one day to allow the new Prime Minister to address the Commons a week later.
Jesse Norman, the Tory shadow leader, posted a letter requesting this delay.
Peter Riddell, former Times political commentator and former head of the Institute for Government thinktank, supported the request, stating:
@Jesse_Norman has a point. It would be good for parliamentary democracy - and probably also for Andy Burnham’s standing- if he made a Commons statement, if not on the 20th when he will be appointed and forming his Cabinet, then on the 21st or 22nd rather than wait six weeks.
Approximately 15 minutes after the Muslim Council of Britain issued a statement about a threat to an Islamic festival in Suffolk from right-wing terrorism, Keir Starmer posted:
Shocking news that Counter Terrorism Police are investigating a credible, serious threat targeted at an Islamic event in Suffolk.
Thanks to the quick action taken by police and the organisers, nobody was hurt.
My message is clear: I will not tolerate any attacks on our Muslim communities, or any form of anti-Muslim hatred.
In the Commons, Alison McGovern, the local government minister, responded to an urgent question on local government reorganisation. She confirmed the process is on track and that announcements about reorganisation in areas where details are not yet settled would be made this week.
When asked by James Cleverly, the shadow communities secretary, about the timing of the announcement, McGovern did not specify a date. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle suggested it would be Thursday.
The Muslim Council of Britain issued a statement regarding the terror attack on an Islamic festival averted by police action over the weekend. Wajid Akhter, the MCB’s secretary general, said:
We thank counter-terror police for their swift action in arresting twelve people over a terrorist threat to an Islamic event this weekend, the speed of their response undoubtedly saved lives, and we are relieved everyone is safe.
This cannot be treated as an isolated incident. Barely a month after racist pogroms in Belfast and a terror-related incident in Edinburgh that left five men injured, this once again highlights that the threat facing Muslim communities is real, not imagined. MCB calls on ministers to match the language of condemnation with actual action and policy, not another round of statements that change nothing.
Mahmood confirms commitment to extending settlement wait to 10 years with transitional arrangements
Jerome Mayhew (Conservative) asked Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood if she remains committed to increasing the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to ten years, following a recent Times story.
It has been settled government policy since last summer, in fact, that the qualifying period will rise from five years to ten.
The government is consulting on what transitional arrangements may be needed, and we will come forward with settled policy later this year.
Later, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, posed a similar question, suggesting that abandoning the 10-year wait might be Andy Burnham’s first policy reversal. Mahmood reiterated that the policy remains unchanged but acknowledged that "transitional arrangements for those who are already in the country" would apply.
This implies some concession, as "transitional arrangements" suggest a possible compromise.
During Home Office questions in the Commons, Mahmood praised the police for arresting 12 individuals in connection with a terror threat, which police described as related to extreme right-wing terrorism.
Mahmood described Ann Widdecombe as "a true public servant" in her initial response to a question during Home Office questions, indicating she would provide further remarks later.
At the start of Commons proceedings, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle paid tribute to Widdecombe, calling her a "formidable politician" who enjoyed "robust political debate" and stating:
Whether you agree with her or not, she was principled, spoke her mind and was true to her beliefs, which were informed by a Christian faith, and was a close friend to David Amess, who was murdered in 2021, and both were fellow animal lovers.
Hoyle urged MPs to refrain from comments that might prejudice a future trial due to the ongoing police investigation and noted he would provide further remarks before the home secretary’s statement later.
He concluded by recalling that he and Widdecombe often dined together at a pizza restaurant in Kennington.
Chris Philp confirms Badenoch's new selection rules exclude candidates like Ken Clarke
Last week, Kemi Badenoch stated that Conservative candidates for the next election must support leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and oppose net zero targets. She said:
If someone still believes in net zero targets that make energy more expensive and are destroying industry, they are not coming back. If someone thinks that the ECHR can be wished away rather than being dealt with properly, they are not serious. If they want to jump on every passing fad that makes us look more like Liberal Democrats than Conservatives, there is no place for them in this party. We have to show we have changed for the better.
We need candidates with the five Cs: they must be clever, have charisma, communication skills, conviction and, most importantly, be Conservative.
Badenoch clarified that former Tory MPs or ministers applying to stand again are being turned down.
Soon some of those who applied [to be candidates], including former MPs, will start to receive a decision and they will be unhappy at not passing the test that will let them stand for the party at the next election …
Some people should never have been candidates before. Some do not have the judgment. Some do not have the discipline. Some do not want the Conservative Party to change. Some say one thing in public and another in private. Some failed basic psychometric tests, including one candidate who turned up drunk to their assessment.
She also said she wanted “a team with a plan that can run the country and deliver radical change in the 2030s, not a retirement home for failed politicians”.
In an interview on the Today programme, Chris Philp was asked if this policy would exclude a younger version of Ken Clarke, the pro-European former chancellor, from being a Tory candidate.
Philp responded that it would depend on Clarke’s views on the ECHR. When pressed that Clarke likely would not pass the test, Philp justified this by stating the issue is "fundamental" because:
the ECHR is stopping us controlling our borders, it’s stopping us deporting foreign paedophiles.
Philp affirmed belief in debate but noted the party has already debated and decided on this matter.
Man arrested on suspicion of Widdecombe's murder rearrested on terrorism charges
The 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, initially arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday, has been rearrested on suspicion of commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Jamie Grierson provides further details on the investigation.
Burnham confirms support for immigration bill
Jessica Elgot, ’s deputy political editor, reports that Andy Burnham is expected to vote in favor of the immigration bill in the Commons tonight. His team indicates support for Shabana Mahmood’s reforms concerning indefinite leave to remain and refugee provisions, while emphasizing backing for the bill’s additional safe routes for refugees.
The bill will return to Parliament this evening for its second reading, with a vote anticipated around 10 pm. MPs do not expect a major rebellion, though some abstentions are likely, as some party sceptics hope for changes to the ILR proposals before the bill’s final Commons stage.
The Home Office states the bill aims to create a fair asylum system for genuine refugees and local communities by addressing uncontrolled, unsafe, and illegal small boat crossings and moving toward capped, safe, and legal routes for genuine refugees.
Andy believes the public deserve an asylum system that is both compassionate and credible.
This bill takes important steps towards restoring confidence by tackling illegal crossings while strengthening safe and legal routes for genuine refugees. This is about ensuring the system is fair both to those seeking protection and to the communities that welcome them.
No 10 and Commons authorities reject Reform UK claims on MP security
Downing Street and House of Commons authorities have rejected claims by Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, that authorities neglect the security of Reform UK MPs.
The state is providing no protection whatsoever.
In fact, based on what I have seen in the last 48 hours, none of the government, the Speaker nor the police care at all about the security of Reform MPs.
Several of our MPs have written to the above in recent months about distressing, escalating security concerns, asking for help.
Their correspondence was not even replied to.
The House of Commons responded with a spokesperson stating: "All MPs are offered appropriate security measures."
At the No 10 lobby briefing, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson said a "rigorous and proportionate protective security system" is in place to protect MPs and ministers.
We keep this under constant review to ensure it is able to adapt and evolve to ever-changing threats, and the parliamentary security department, police and Home Office teams work in close coordination to assess risk and provide comprehensive protective security measures.
According to Jack Elsom from The Sun, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has complained to Reform UK about Yusuf’s comments, stating:
Hearing that Lindsay Hoyle has spoken to Reform chief whip Lee Anderson over Zia Yusuf’s claims that he doesn’t care about their MPs’ security.
Sounds like the Speaker is not very happy, to say the least.
There has been no response yet from Nigel Farage regarding the news that counter-terrorism police are investigating the murder of Ann Widdecombe. Reform UK is likely to view this as a significant vindication.
Over the weekend, Farage suggested a political motive for the killing, despite Devon and Cornwall police stating there was "no information to suggest this was a terrorism-related incident" and "nothing to suggest that it was politically motivated".
The Times published an article highlighting a comment by Harvey Proctor, a former Tory MP and close friend of Widdecombe, who criticized Farage’s remarks:
Ann Widdecombe was far too dear to her family, friends and former colleagues for her murder to be exploited as political propaganda.
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.
This morning, Richard Tice, Reform UK deputy leader, posted a message condemning The Times’ coverage as "sick" and asked:
How many more Reform politicians do you want dead?
Within the last hour, he posted:
A lot of journalists MUST now APOLOGISE to Nigel and us at Reform
Counter terrorism police now leading investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s murder investigation
Ministers expected to delay final Commons debates on representation of people bill
The statement in the Commons on the death of Ann Widdecombe is one of three scheduled statements, alongside an urgent question.
- 2:30 pm: Home Secretary Mahmood takes Home Office questions.
- 3:30 pm: A communities minister responds to an urgent question from James Cleverly about local government reorganisation.
- Around 4:15 pm: Commons leader Alan Campbell makes a business statement, expected to announce postponement of the representation of the people bill report stage and third reading debate scheduled for tomorrow, possibly to allow more time for debate on the Hillsborough law.
- Around 4:30 pm: Mahmood delivers her statement on Widdecombe.
- Around 6:00 pm: Nature minister Mary Creagh gives a statement on nature and climate.
Counter-terrorism police now investigating murder of Ann Widdecombe, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, confirmed that counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into Ann Widdecombe’s murder.
This morning I have spoken to the head of @TerrorismPolice. Following new information and evidence, they are now leading on the investigation into the horrific murder of Ann Widdecombe.
The police are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack. I will be updating the House further this afternoon.
My thoughts today remain with Ann’s family and friends, and all those who loved her.
