Boris Johnson ‘sorry and shocked’ at death of ‘dear colleague’ Ann Widdecombe
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has said he was “very sorry and shocked” about the death of his “dear colleague” Ann Widdecombe.
During a visit to the Nova Exhibition in Shoreditch on Tuesday afternoon, he described Miss Widdecombe as a “hard act to follow” and urged everyone to “let the police get on” with their investigations.
Former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Miss Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor at around 11.40am on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries.
Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into her death.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mr Johnson commended Miss Widdecombe as an “extraordinary politician” and called the circumstances of her death “appalling and unforgivable”.
Mr Johnson told the Press Association: “I’m very very sorry and shocked about the murder or what seems to be the murder of Ann who was a dear colleague, I knew her for many, many years.
“She was a totally redoubtable person, an extraordinary politician and a very, very hard act to follow by the way, she left audiences absolutely wrung out with emotion after she did her stuff.”
Asked about the security of UK politicians, Mr Johnson said: “Look I heard what the Home Secretary had to say and that seemed sensible to me.”
Mr Johnson said: “What happened to her, what seems to have happened to her was utterly appalling and unforgivable.
“I think the politics of what kind of an attack it was, I just think you’ve got to let the police get on with it and do their jobs now.”
He concluded by encouraging everyone to “let the process continue” because “that’s what we do in this country”.