A University of Aberdeen employee posted on social media that she hoped a murdered British politician suffered “an extremely painful death” and was “handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony” — and now police and her own employer are investigating.
Story Snapshot
- Heather Herbert, a web developer at the University of Aberdeen, posted graphic comments on the Bluesky platform celebrating the death of former British politician Ann Widdecombe.
- Police Scotland announced it is conducting further inquiries into Herbert’s posts, while Aberdeen University launched its own internal investigation.
- Counter-terrorism police have taken the lead in the broader murder investigation, citing new evidence pointing to a targeted attack.
- A 28-year-old man from Rotherham was arrested on suspicion of murdering Widdecombe — a separate matter from Herbert’s social media posts.
What Herbert Posted — and What Happened Next
Heather Herbert, born Scott Herbert and identified as a transgender activist, posted on the Bluesky social media platform shortly after news broke of Ann Widdecombe’s death on July 9, 2024. The post expressed hope that Widdecombe had suffered “an extremely painful death” and had been “handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony.” The University of Aberdeen, where Herbert works as a web developer, quickly moved to distance itself from the comments and opened a formal investigation.
Police Scotland said it is conducting “further enquiries” into the posts. As of the latest reports, no confirmed arrest of Herbert has been publicly announced — only that an investigation is underway. Aberdeen University has not yet released the outcome of its internal review. The Socialist Workers Party also drew sharp criticism after posting “Hurrah! She’s dead!” in response to Widdecombe’s death, showing Herbert was not alone in the online backlash.
Who Was Ann Widdecombe?
Ann Widdecombe was a 78-year-old former Conservative Member of Parliament and a Reform UK spokeswoman. She was a staunch Catholic known for her strong views on abortion, immigration, and traditional values — making her a polarizing figure in British politics. Her death was ruled a targeted attack. Counter-terrorism police, led by Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter-Terrorism Policing, announced they had taken over the murder investigation after new information pointed to a clear motive.
A 28-year-old man from Rotherham was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with Widdecombe’s death. That suspect is entirely separate from Herbert, whose case involves only social media posts. Counter-terrorism police have not publicly linked Herbert to the murder suspect or to the crime scene in any way.
Free Speech or Criminal Offense?
Herbert’s posts sit in a legal gray zone. UK law can treat online expressions of glee at a politician’s death as potential public order offenses — even when they don’t directly call for violence. No specific criminal charge or statute has been publicly cited in Herbert’s case. The posts did not name a target for future harm, but they were graphic and personal enough to trigger both a police probe and a university investigation.
This is a tricky one.
What Scott Herbert said about Ann Widdecombe was utterly vile. I think it shows he is mentally ill and hates women enough to hurt them if they disagree with him. People who fantasise a woman’s brutal murder have the potential to commit one.
What has he…
— Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) July 16, 2026
Political figures and commentators across the spectrum called Herbert’s words “utterly appalling” and “absolutely abhorrent.” But the lack of a confirmed arrest or formal charge raises a fair question: where does offensive speech end and criminal conduct begin? That line matters — both for protecting public order and for protecting free expression. The outcome of the police inquiry and the university’s internal review may help clarify it. For now, neither has been made public.
Sources:
lifesitenews.com, news.stv.tv, youtube.com, metro.co.uk, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
