I didn’t think that last week I would turn on my computer and find the terrible news that former Tory MP and latterly Reform Party member Anne Widdecombe had been found dead. This news attracted much shock and dismay from people across the political spectrum, including those who may have disagreed with her on some issues. The exceptions were those on the far Left such as the Socialist Workers Party, the online Troon contingent who are nearly always lacking in any sort of moral compass and questionable individuals such as Peter Tatchell. These groups were without a doubt vile in their responses to the news about Ms Widdecombe’s death.

Then came the news that what many of us initially thought was a death possibly because of a fall was instead being treated by Devon and Cornwall police as a possible murder. This news was even more shocking than the first reports of Ms Widdecombe’s death.

The shocking news that 78 year old Ms Widdecombe’s death was being classified by police as murder has elicited a wave of speculation and as is so often the case a wave of piss poor public communications by Devon and Cornwall Police. Whilst I completely understand and accept that not every piece of information pertinent to a case can be released to the public because of the danger of tainting any potential future juror or because releasing information might be helpful to the person sought in connection with the murder, Devon and Cornwall Police have not exactly covered themselves in glory in how they’ve dealt with the communications over this issue.

Devon and Cornwall Police made a big thing about the white race of the first person they picked up but who they later released once they realised that he was innocent but were for a while less than open about the nature of the second person they released. It was left to journalists to identify the nature of the second person arrested and these journalists have claimed that the person was a man with learning difficulties who went to pieces after his father died.

Police in the area where Ms Widdecombe was allegedly murdered are making increasingly shrill appeals for the public not to speculate on the death of Ms Widdecombe but these appeals are falling on deaf ears. While I understand that there are damned good legal and investigative reasons why the public should not speculate or make suggestions as to the motive of the crime it’s clear that the public have little interest in following police instructions. Thirty or so years ago the police’s instruction might have been complied with but decades of police dishonesty, political bias, two tier policing operations along with a greater awareness of police involvement in major miscarriages of justice have changed the public’s attitude to the police. ‘How do you know when a senior police officer is lying about a high profile case? Their lips move’ has been the public’s response in the main to police statements over the alleged murder of Ms Widdecombe. The police may be upset that this is happening and the speculation may harm the prosecutions case against any future defendant but the public attitude of cynicism about the police is almost entirely the fault of the police.

This case has been plagued with armchair detectives pushing their own theories about this case including claims that the alleged murder of Ms Widdecombe was politically motivated and asking questions about the viability of the police’s claim that the second man arrested had driven all the way to Ms Widdecombe’s house from Yorkshire without stopping. Due to the nature of this case and because of the massive drop in confidence in the police I don’t think the speculation will stop. I don’t believe the theorising about this case will cease even with the intervention of legally knowledgable people are warning that too much speculation might result in any case against the alleged murderer being thrown out.

This is quite obviously going to be an investigation that could be quite complex and that might be indicated by rumours that Devon and Cornwall Police have called for assistance from London’s Metropolitan Police who have resources that might not be available to a local force. However we will not know the full details of this case until any trial occurs. Is it a targeted political assassination, a nutcase who developed an obsession with Ms Widdecombe, a burglary gone wrong or whatever? Until there is a trial then we will not know for certain what has gone on with this case.

May Anne Widdecombe’s memory be for a blessing and may justice catch up with whoever may have murdered her.