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Police launched a murder inquiry into the death of Ann Widdecombe, the former MP, aged 78. Her body was found with head wounds at her house on Dartmoor. They arrested a 28-year-old white British man in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Counter-terrorism police took over the investigation two days later and rearrested the suspect on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Police called it a ‘targeted’ attack. She had been a minister in Sir John Major’s administration, an MEP for the Brexit Party and, since 2023, a member of Reform, serving as its immigration and justice spokesman.
Andy Burnham was nominated for the Labour leadership by 349 of Labour’s 403 MPs, making it impossible for any rival to secure the 81 nominations needed to stand against him. In an interview with the Guardian he said: ‘At the start of Israel’s military action in Gaza my party didn’t get it right… We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government.’ The Representation of the People Bill was delayed until September. Sir Stephen Timms, in a formal review, found the personal independence payment (Pip) ‘not fit for purpose’; about 10 million, 24 per cent of working-age people, reported having a disability. The government proposed a midnight social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds. Sir Olly Robbins requested a judicial review to declare that his sacking by Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, was unlawful, unreasonable and would be quashed. The by-election at Clacton precipitated by Nigel Farage was set for 13 August. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children, Archie and Lilibet, visited the King at Highgrove at teatime. In 2025, 5,957 baby boys were called Muhammad, 1,712 Mohammed and 895 Mohammad; only 127 babies were named Andrew.
