Farage: Starmer told me Widdecombe killing was botched burglary

Nigel Farage has claimed Sir Keir Starmer told him that Ann Widdecombe’s killing was a “burglary that’s gone wrong”.

Nigel Farage has claimed Sir Keir Starmer told him that Ann Widdecombe's killing was a "burglary that's gone wrong". The Reform leader said he had questioned the Prime Minister and the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police several times at the weekend following the announcement of the former Tory MP's death on Friday. "They both told me it's a burglary that's gone wrong.

I said no it is not, a burglar does not park his car on your drive and walk into the house. A burglar parks in the lay-by down the road and has a getaway driver," Mr Farage told TalkTV this morning. "I went to Dartmoor on Saturday and said I had no doubt this is a premeditated murder.

I received tons of abuse for saying it, but sadly it's proved that I'm right. It was obvious." Miss Widdecombe, who defected to the Brexit Party in 2019 before later joining Reform as the party's immigration and justice spokesman, was found dead at her Dartmoor bungalow on Thursday morning after sustaining serious injuries.

Police have been criticised for repeatedly insisting that there was nothing to suggest her killing had been politically motivated or linked to terrorism in a series of public statements. At the time, Reform sources questioned whether the suspect might have been motivated by her politics, with one saying: "It is clear to everybody that we are being gaslit by the police." Counter-terror police confirmed yesterday that Miss Widdecombe's death had been a "targeted attack".

Detectives are exploring several leads on the suspect's motive, including whether she was the sole target or if the suspect had been scoping out other Reform politicians as part of an extreme Left-wing plot. At a press conference on Wednesday, Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesman, called Miss Widdecombe's death "an assault on democracy itself" and labelled the initial police response "inadequate". Paying tribute to the Reform politician, he said: "Ann was without doubt one of this country's most formidable and courageous politicians.

She inspired me and countless others." Mr Yusuf then accused Labour, Liberal Democrats and Tory politicians of incitement against Reform, claiming: "I can tell you about the climate in which she was killed, a relentless narrative from politicians and the media that Reform UK is a threat, a threat to be urgently stopped. "A narrative so relentless it constitutes incitement.

And why are we targeted like this? Because we say things that are unfashionable among many in Westminster but are popular in the country at large." 11:25am

This blog is now closed Thank you for joining The Telegraph's live coverage of Reform UK's first press conference following the alleged murder of Ann Widdecombe. Here is a summary of the key developments: Zia Yusuf, Reform's home affairs spokesman, demanded full security be provided to all politicians who want it after Miss Widdecombe's killing Reform said the budget for additional security, which currently stands at £4m, should be increased to as much as £100m Mr Yusuf suggested such a policy could also extend to councillors and MPs' staff in the future Reading out a series of derogatory comments by Labour politicians about the late 78-year-old, Mr Yusuf went on to rebuke Sir Keir and his top team for their past remarks about Reform Mr Yusuf also accused Devon and Cornwall Police of an "inadequate" response to Miss Widdecombe's killing In an interview shortly before the press conference, Nigel Farage has claimed Sir Keir Starmer told him that Ann Widdecombe's killing was a "burglary that's gone wrong" 11:21am Police accused of 'inadequate' response to Widdecombe killing Zia Yusuf accused Devon and Cornwall Police of an "inadequate" response to Ann Widdecombe's killing.

Mr Yusuf told a press conference: "Aside from the shock and the grief there was an overwhelming sense of fear amongst the Reform MPs... What was going through my mind is how I would I react if I was in a position to discharge these sorts of resources, state resources? "I would operate on the basis that our democracy was sacrosanct, I would not allow it be threatened.

And if there are serving MPs who are colleagues of an amazing woman who had been barbarically murdered, who had outspoken political views that those colleagues often shared, that they felt safe. And I would go to the end of the earth to make sure nothing happened to them." Mr Yusuf continued: "It was the police that were effectively speculating...

I think the response was not only inadequate from a security perspective, the pretext for that inadequate response was essentially steering people away from the idea that this could be a politically motivated attack, something that seems increasingly likely to have been incorrect." 11:12am Yusuf: Councillors could also be included in security review Zia Yusuf suggested councillors and the staff of MPs could be included in a future review of politicians' security.

Mr Yusuf was asked by Charles Hymas, The Telegraph's Home Affairs Editor, whether councillors and MPs' staff would be included in any review of protection. "Look, of course, there are threats to be councillors, and just to be clear, not just Reform councillors," he responded. "One of the things that kept me awake at night when I was chairman of this party is the threats that activists face.

I mean people being chased down the street with an axe for knocking on the door with a Reform leaflet. So the threat is real, we will be looking at all of those things." Mr Yusuf was also asked whether the incitement of other politicians "crosses a criminal threshold", but did not answer.

11:05am 'Some movement' on security for Reform politicians Zia Yusuf said there had "been some movement" on the security provided to Reform MPs. He said: "In terms of the current situation with state protection for Reform MPs, there has been some movement in the very near past. "I'm not going to comment on that but suffice to say I think particularly in light of new information, I'm pleased to say the threats are being taken seriously, that I will say and I'm grateful for that."

11:02am Zia Yusuf defends calling political opponents 'traitors' Zia Yusuf defended his use of the word "traitors" about his political opponents. The Reform home affairs spokesman was read by a BBC journalist a list of remarks he has made about his political opponents, including "sick", "depraved", "betrayal" and "traitors". Mr Yusuf said: "If you use the word traitor, for example, the definition of traitor is somebody who is engaged in betrayal and as far as I'm concerned it is demonstrable that for example the Conservative Party has acted in betrayal of the people who voted for them.

"And I'm not going to make this an attack on the Conservative Party right now in this answer but that is demonstrable. "I think there is a clear difference between some of the things that you read out there... [and] some of the comments from existing members of the Government, by the way, likening Reform to the Nazis, likening Reform to the fascists."

11:00am Yusuf: Police sometimes guilty of 'gaslighting' public Zia Yusuf said the police were sometimes guilty of "gaslighting" in their response to major incidents. Asked if the police were biased against Reform, Mr Yusuf responded: "I don't have evidence that the police are biased against the Reform Party. I think trust in police, and this is just my opinion, we see this in poll after poll, is worryingly low...

"When we see things like what we saw with the bodycam footage of Henry Nowak's tragic murder, when we see what people would often describe frankly as gaslighting in the initial response from authorities, and without doubt differential responses depending on, for example, the ethnicity of the suspect, I don't think that's helpful. "The vast majority of our police officers are incredible people who put their lives on the line to keep us all safe and I'm hugely grateful to them... The things that really concerns are these police race action plans... which do embed, clearly, structurally anti-white prejudice, for example."

10:57am Reform pledges round-the-clock security for all MPs Reform UK has pledged round-the-clock security for all MPs if it wins the next general election. Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesman, said he did not want to see politicians, regardless of their party, fearing for their lives when expressing their views. Mr Yusuf said: "I do not want to see the hounding of families, the publication of their homes.

I do not want to see another politician killed in this country. I do not want to see what happened to Ann happen ever again. This has to stop.

"I will close by announcing a new Reform policy. If Reform win the next general election, as home secretary I will ensure that all Members of Parliament of all parties are provided with round-the-clock protection. We will also allocate significant new resources to protect former politicians still active in public life.

"No matter how much I, Nigel, Richard or anyone else may disagree with your views, if you are an MP you must be able to air them without fear. An attack on one politician is an assault on democracy itself. Knowing Ann as I did, I know she would agree."

10:54am Yusuf: Stop questioning Farage's security arrangements Zia Yusuf warned those questioning Nigel Farage's security arrangements against continuing to do so. The Reform frontbencher said: "The fact is this.

Many politicians and members of the media are effectively stopping the function of democracy by creating an environment of such hostility for Reform and making it unpalatably dangerous to air perfectly reasonable views. "That needs to end. Those who question Nigel Farage's need for security should stop.

Politicians from other parties are perfectly entitled to disagree with our policies and criticise them. They are of course free to criticise us. "But they must stop equating us to murderous regimes that butchered tens of millions of people and committed some of the greatest horrors in history.

The media prosecute their role in holding all politicians to account, without stooping to endangering them or their families. "And we must ask ourselves if we wish to be a country which has a functioning democracy. Reform believes in Britain, we believe without a functioning democracy there is no Britain.

Now for us to have one, politicians must be free to argue their opinions of being murdered for them. Just as Sir David Amess was. Just as Jo Cox was.

And now our dear Ann has been killed in her home." 10:50am 'Most serious current threat' to Pochin from trans activists Zia Yusuf said the "most serious current threat" to Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP, comes from transgender activists. Mr Yusuf said: "During the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, Sarah Pochin's office was subjected to at least nine incidents including Nazi stickers placed on the building, eggs thrown at the door, threatening visits from members of the public and an Antifa presence two days before polling day.

"Since her election, multiple specific online threats have been passed to threats. The most serious current threat comes from militant transgender activist group Bash Back, that has a published direct action guide explicitly targeting MPs who speak on gender issues. "The guide instructs supporters to identify targets and 'hit repeatedly until they desist'.

Hit repeatedly until they desist." 10:47am Farage lives his life in mortal danger, warns Yusuf Nigel Farage lives his life in "mortal danger", Zia Yusuf has said. Mr Yusuf told a press conference: "The leader of our party lives his life under the ever-present threat of mortal danger.

He has received 1,577 threats since February this year including 597 death threats. "The most persistent individual targeting Nigel sent six directed threats to him on Facebook between June 24 and July 6, including a message telling him to 'get the f out of Wales before I kill Nigel Farage, you could die at any given moment'." Mr Yusuf went on to an individual who called for someone to "shoot Nigel Farage" in a post on X. "Social media is awash with threats to kill Nigel," he said.

"Such threats have been ever-present for years yet astonishingly last autumn just days after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the authorities took the decision to cut the size of Nigel's security detail by 75 per cent. Then the Government sent David Lammy out to say Farage 'flirted with the Hitler Youth'." 10:45am Raise MP security budget to £100m, Reform demands Reform UK has demanded full security must be provided to all politicians who want it after Ann Widdecombe's killing.

Reform said the budget for additional security, which currently stands at £4m, should be increased to as much as £100m. Zia Yusuf, Reform's home affairs spokesman, said: "Ann Widdecombe gave 40 years of her life to public service. Most recently as an MEP for the Brexit Party, and then as a spokesperson for Reform UK. She was a titan of British politics.

Forthright, principled, and guided by her faith. She did not deserve to be killed in her home. "Ann's alleged murder is being investigated by counter terror police as a targeted killing.

In light of these developments, attacking Nigel and Reform UK MPs for 'speculating' is unacceptable and unjustified. "More generally, our elected representatives deserve to feel safe while they go about their jobs. Instead, the state cuts their security.

This is shameful. It's clear that the budget for MP security must be increased immediately. That's exactly what we're calling for today."

10:43am Reform rebukes Starmer and Nandy Reform UK's home affairs spokesman rebuked Sir Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy for their past comments about Reform UK. Zia Yusuf told a press conference: "Lisa Nandy, Labour's Culture Secretary, was asked whether Reform were fascists. She responded: 'If it walks like a duck.'

The chairman of the Conservative Party likened Reform to Nazis... "Keir Starmer described Reform policies as 'racist' and 'immoral'. Wes Streeting insisted that Reform was 'dangerous', 'nationalistic' and 'using propaganda reminiscent of the 1930s'.

And Lucy Powell described Mr Farage as 'a threat to democracy'. "But these are a tiny fraction of countless examples. And keep in mind that the views that Reform espouse are anything but niche.

Our party has led over 350 national opinion polls in a row." 10:41am Zia Yusuf attacks Labour's past Widdecombe remarks Zia Yusuf attacked David Lammy, Wes Streeting and Jess Phillips over historic comments about Ann Widdecombe. Mr Yusuf said: "David Lammy, now the Deputy Prime Minister, described Ann as a 'poisonous bigot' who wants to 'drag us back to the 19th century' and 'throw minorities out in the cold on the way'.

"He boldly declared 'we must stand up to them before it's too late'. Before it's too late. "Wes Streeting, until recently the health secretary, said: 'If only science had a cure for Ann Widdecombe'.

"A woman on Twitter said 'Ann Widdecombe better go [from Strictly Come Dancing] this week, she is a little fascist beast'. This woman happens to have been until just a few months ago the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, Jess Phillips." Mr Yusuf continued: "Is it any wonder with such rhetoric relentlessly levelled at Reform that some may be moved to try to eliminate that supposed threat through lethal violence?"

10:38am Yusuf accuses politicians of 'incitement' against Reform Zia Yusuf has accused politicians and the media of "incitement" against Reform UK. Mr Yusuf said he could not say why Ann Widdecombe was killed, but added: "What I can tell you is counter-terrorism police are investigating her murder as a suspected act of terrorism. "And I can tell you about the climate in which she was killed, a relentless narrative from politicians and the media that Reform UK is a threat, a threat to be urgently stopped.

"A narrative so relentless it constitutes incitement. And why are we targeted like this? Because we say things that are unfashionable among many in Westminster but are popular in the country at large."

10:37am Yusuf: Widdecombe killing 'an assault on democracy itself' Zia Yusuf has said Ann Widdecombe's killing was "an assault on democracy itself". The Reform UK home affairs spokesman said: "Britain has been devastated by the news of another of our beloved politicians brutally murdered.

After Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, now Ann Widdecombe has been savagely killed in her home. "All three died without any protection. This is unacceptable for a country with a £1.2tn annual budget.

"An attack on a politician is an assault on democracy itself. Ann was without doubt one of this country's most formidable and courageous politicians. She inspired me and countless others."

10:29am Jenrick: Labour playing politics with Farage's life Reform UK has accused the Government of "playing politics" with Nigel Farage's life. Robert Jenrick, the party's Treasury spokesman, claimed ministers had chosen not to give Mr Farage the security he needed before Ann Widdecombe's death last week because they disagreed with his politics.

Mr Jenrick claimed ministers should have acted sooner and accused Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, of a "dereliction of duty". However, a Home Office spokesman said: "Robert Jenrick's comments are categorically untrue. Neither the Home Secretary, nor ministers are involved in the provision of security for MPs.

Responsibility for the protective security measures of Members of Parliament lies with the Parliamentary Security Department. "Nigel Farage has been offered a meeting with the chair of Ravec – the independently chaired committee that manages the security of those in public life." 10:19am Farage: Starmer told me Widdecombe's death was a burglary gone wrong Nigel Farage has claimed that Sir Keir Starmer and Devon and Cornwall Police told him Ann Widdecombe's killing was "a burglary that's gone wrong".

The Reform UK leader questioned the response from the Prime Minister and the police following the announcement last Friday of Miss Widdecombe's death. Mr Farage told TalkTV: "I spoke to the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police three times, I spoke to the Prime Minister as well. And those calls took place over Friday and Saturday.

"And they both told me it's a burglary that's gone wrong. I said no it is not, a burglar does not park his car on your drive and walk into the house. A burglar parks in the lay-by down the road and has a getaway driver.

"I went to Dartmoor on Saturday and said I had no doubt this is a premeditated murder. I received tons of abuse for saying it, but sadly it's proved that I'm right. It was obvious."

10:10am Suspect 'may have targeted other Reform politicians' Counter-terror police are investigating whether the man arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe may have targeted other Reform UK politicians. Detectives said they were working at pace to understand the motive for the killing of the 78-year-old former Conservative minister. A 28-year-old man from Rotherham who was arrested on suspicion of murder and terrorism offences remains in custody, with police granted seven days to continue questioning him.

Counter-terrorism specialists are examining a number of digital devices seized from the suspect's home as they seek to establish the level of planning that preceded the attack. 10:07am Reform to address killing of Ann Widdecombe Good morning.

Reform UK will address the killing of Ann Widdecombe in the party's first press conference since her death. Zia Yusuf, Reform's home affairs spokesman, will give a speech at 10.30am as counter-terror police continue their investigation. Miss Widdecombe, who was killed aged 78, had been Reform's justice and immigration spokesman since she joined the party in 2023.

She was taking part in interviews on behalf Reform just minutes before her killing.