[Bones McCoy]

Yes, it seems those of us who thought this unlikely to be political were wrong and we can add Widdecombe's name to David Ames and Jo Cox's on the list of recent political murders. Farage will be quaffing the Champers in The Establishment Club tonight.

There have been so many twists in the story that the CTU will very likely be stood down tomorrow. It's getting stranger by the hour - whatever your political grievance there must be dozens of more likely targets.

After a day's thought.

CTU involvement doesn't directly imply terrorism.
I know this will have the common sensers' brains asploding.
Consider how arrest or charge doesn't necessarily imply guilt,

So what else.
To confidently eliminate terrorism as a motive, the tools and methods of the CTU are as good as we have.
Gather evidence, call in the experts to ensure it's not a case for them (or decide whether it is).

Like most of you, I struggle to find a rational motive* that would precisely target Anne Widdecombe.
Bear in mind that not all killers are rational.

* OK I can dream up a few extremely far fetched scenarios.

[Bones McCoy]

I too having been puzzling over why Widdecombe when other Reformers are a) nearer b) higher profile. I wondered what made her different and how that would make her a target of any known terrorists, obviously there's the anti-gay stuff but, as far as I'm aware, gay terrorism is not a thing - but there's a first time for everything I guess.
Alternatively, a Google search revealed that she was quite vocal on Israel/Palestine, she supported a two-state solution and condemned Hamas. She also travelled to Israel quite frequently (to visit a donkey sanctuary), Nothing remarkable from a UK politician, but unusual from Reform and certainly enough to put a target on her back in some people's eyes.

But again, there must be at least a hundred higher-profile politicians that have been more pro-Israel.

I know, it's not a great theory, but it's all I've got.
Mind you, some Gammon on Twitter's just described her as "the highest profile female politician since Thatcher"!

Gammons on Twitter have short memories.
They've forgotten the much fitter bird in the Pan-Am outfit who carries a massive sword at the woke coronation.

[Bones McCoy]

Has nobody arrested the local hunt?

Anne Widdecombe's notorious "stopped clock" was opposition to fox hunting.

[Andy McDandy]

One thing I remember from Prevent training is that the overlap between obsessive nutter and terrorist recruit is pretty big.

[Oboogie]

Has nobody arrested the local hunt?

Anne Widdecombe's notorious "stopped clock" was opposition to fox hunting.

True but I fear you've forgotten a key piece to the mystery, the suspect is from Rotherham which must be about 300 miles away.
Maybe it's someone who hates donkeys?

[Abernathy]

So what do they know ? The detained suspect is a white bloke in his twenties from Rotheram, who it seems drove 300 miles to Dartmoor with his very own murder weapon - “a wooden stick”, battered Widdecombe to death, and drove back to Rotheram. His actions have apparently been identified as “terrorist” in nature. His motivation may or may not have been “political”.

Couldn’t be any stranger, really. If this guy is guilty of the murder, and they are apparently not looking for anybody else, then surely he has to be some sort of unhinged whack-job.

I mean I thought Widdecombe was utterly loathsome, but I’ve never wanted to beat her to death.

[kreuzberger]

the Graun is now headlining that Plod is a; examining a lefty motive and b; ruling nothing in or out.

Goodness me; they are unconscionably stupid. But hey, clicks.

[kreuzberger]

What is the nature of his suspected preparations for acts of terrorism? A couple of sheets of blank A4 primed in the printer and ready to be distributed to a sleeper cell of retired geography teachers?

The Berghaus-Meinhof gang.

[Andy McDandy]

Given the price of fuel, they were fucking committed.

[The Weeping Angel]

There are plenty of maladjusted, sociopathic losers with personality disorders who are left-wing. So yeah, I can see someone on the left doing something this awful.

[Youngian]

There are plenty of maladjusted, sociopathic losers with personality disorders who are left-wing. So yeah, I can see someone on the left doing something this awful.

Why don't left leaning conspiracy theories and hate targets motivate the sociopathic loner who carries out acts of murder in the post Cold War era?
I'm sure there's examples in the past 35 years but can't think of any. Curious as to why.

[Bones McCoy]

the Graun is now headlining that Plod is a; examining a lefty motive and b; ruling nothing in or out.

Goodness me; they are unconscionably stupid. But hey, clicks.

Might as well hand Tommy Ten Names a £10K starter on his next gofundme.

[Oboogie]

the Graun is now headlining that Plod is a; examining a lefty motive and b; ruling nothing in or out.

Goodness me; they are unconscionably stupid. But hey, clicks.

Hold on, as approximately 75% of the population are to the Left of Ann Widdecombe, laws of probability would suggest (if it is political) Plod's instincts are sound.

[Abernathy]

Also, rationally speaking (and I do appreciate that Widdecombe’s killer may have been bonkers irrational), murdering a 78 year old woman who was basically retired from her most politically poisonous period of activity, even though she retained some sort of fringe position within the Reform Party, does not seem to follow much logic. What was the supposed terrorist/killer hoping to achieve by murdering such a person? Whatever it was, it may not be what he was hoping for.

[davidjay]

The whole thing is becoming increasing like a TV crime drama - retired spinster, country village, no discernible motive and a myriad of side plots.

[Boiler]

When does John Nettles rock up?

[satnav]

Reform's plans for 24 hour security for all MPs is utterly bonkers. Should the public be providing round the clock security for MPs who rarely turn up in the commons and rarely hold constituency surgeries? Would Farage expect to get security when he is over in America grifting for extra cash or moonlighting in the GB News studios?

[RedSparrows]

It's an interesting inflection on the standard Reform formula: wasting taxpayer money on establishment scum!!! STOP IT NOW!!!

To: protecting brave insurgent heroes by... using... the funds of the state... and the establishment's co-operation to protect them from... enemies... yer

[davidjay]

No-one used the word "Establishment" until recently. Now it's this year's "fighting age men".

[Malcolm Armsteen]

I think Pete and Dud might tale issue with that...