See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 15:01 BST, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 15:42 BST, 13 July 2026 42 shares
The Labour minister responsible for reducing violence against women apologised to Nigel Farage and Reform today after accusing them of 'faux outrage' over Ann Widdecombe's death. Natalie Fleet lashed out at Farage 'and his gang of bin men' yesterday after they used the death of the former Tory minister to make claims about how she died and the safety of MPs.Leading Reform figures have spoken out in the wake of the suspected murder to complain about the level of security given to them.Ms Widdecombe, the former Tory minister and later a Reform spokeswoman, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday.A 28-year-old white British man arrested on suspicion of murder at an address in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Saturday evening was today re-arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.Last night Ms Fleet, 42, the MP for Bolsover, wrote on X: 'Nigel Farage and his gang of bin men get the same security as the rest of us. Sick of the faux outrage.'She also raised the situation where Simon Evans, a Reform councillor in Lancashire, reshared a post calling for her to be shot, for which he later apologised.But after she faced kickback, including from Reform MP Lee Anderson, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls deleted the tweet, adding: 'Apologies for offence caused by my earlier tweet, which I've now deleted. Natalie Fleet lashed out at Farage 'and his gang of bin men' yesterday after they used the death of the former Tory minister to make claims about how she died and the safety of MPs'My thoughts are – as they have always been – with Ann Widdecombe's loved ones at this awful time.'The death of Ms Widdecombe, 78, has revived fears about the safety of Britain's politicians, with Reform figures claiming their MPs receive 'no protection whatsoever'.But Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, and Parliament officials are said to be furious about the claims they do not 'care at all' about the safety of Reform MPs.Meanwhile, Mr Farage has been accused of exploiting the murder of Ms Widdecombe for 'political propaganda'.He told reporters he believed the attack on her was 'premeditated murder' and said a car had appeared on her drive at around 12.25pm on Wednesday.'I don't think it pays at this moment in time to speculate,' Mr Farage also said.Downing Street has stressed the importance of protecting the 'integrity' of the investigation after warnings against speculation about the case. But Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf spoke out against such warnings on Monday, posting on X: 'Don't speculate!' means 'shut up and accept the establishment narrative!'He had earlier posted: 'The authorities offer no information, but if you ask questions they admonish you for "speculating".'
