Moment trans ex-Labour candidate who said she hoped Ann Widdecombe suffered 'extremely painful death' nods along with friend saying: 'If people don't show love, show bullets'

Published: 01:53, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 01:53, 16 July 2026 This is the moment an ex-Labour candidate, who said she hoped Ann Widdecombe suffered an 'extremely painful death', nodded along as her friend said: 'If people don't show love, show bullets.' Heather Herbert, a transgender web developer at Aberdeen University, relished in the 'good news' of the former Tory MP's death in a vile post on Bluesky on July 10, one day after Ms Widdecombe was found dead with serious injuries at her cottage in Haytor on Dartmoor. Both police and her employer launched an investigation after the comments - posted before news of the murder probe broke - were reported by members of the public. Police Scotland initially said the information had been assessed and 'no criminality' had been established. However, in an update yesterday afternoon, a spokesperson for the force said: 'We received reports on Saturday 11 July 2026 relating to a post made online. 'Following further assessment, additional enquiries are being carried out.' Now, a video has resurfaced which appears to show Ms Herbert nodding along as her friend endorses violence against people who don't 'show love' to transgender people. In the clip, which was filmed and posted in May last year, Ms Herbert is in conversation with a friend known as Poppybear Hackett. A video has resurfaced which appears to show Ms Herbert (left) nodding along as her friend, known as Poppybear Hackett (right), endorses violence against people who don't 'show love' to transgender people Former Scottish Labour candidate Heather Herbert, a web developer at Aberdeen University, relished in the news of Ann Widdecombe's death online Poppybear Hackett said: 'What the f*** does it matter what the colour of your skin is, what your sexual orientation is. You know, why don't we all just show some love. 'And if people don't show love, show bullets.' The video comes after Ms Herbert shared a post on Bluesky on the day of Ann Widdecombe's death calling it 'good news'. She wrote: 'And some good news for once. I hope it was an extremely painful death.' In another post, Ms Herbert said: 'And I hope she was handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony.' Ms Herbert later doubled down, insisting she was 'glad [Ms Widdecombe] was dead' – even after deeply distressing details of the 78-year-old's murder emerged. The hard-Left has been condemned for seeking to use Ms Widdecombe's death to score political points.  Aberdeen University was quick to distance itself from her comments, with rector Iona Fyfe saying: 'I'd like to condemn any comments which glorifies violence of any sort, against anyone.' Ms Herbert said she hoped the former Tory MP, 78, suffered an agonising death  Ms Widdecombe was killed in her home on Wednesday last week, and discovered 24 hours later Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter Edwards, said the university has a zero-tolerance approach to 'violence or hateful behaviour', and gave his assurance the comments were being investigated 'as a priority'. Yesterday, the Scottish Greens launched a probe, confirming they have opened an investigation given Ms Herbert's association with the party. The activist joined the Scottish Greens in late 2021 after previously being a member of Scottish Labour. Ms Widdecombe was found dead by her gardener at her cottage in Haytor on Dartmoor at around 11.40am on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries. A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday. On Monday, specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing took over the investigation into the death of the former minister. Laurence Taylor, leading the investigation, said that it is believed the political veteran was the victim of a 'targeted attack' and confirmed officers are still looking into any 'motivation' behind her death.  Mr Taylor said: 'We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation, and the motivation that sits behind that attack. 'I don't want to comment further on that motivation or preparation at this stage of our inquiries.' Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a man in his 20s was arrested on Tuesday after a post on X warned the Reform UK leader: 'I am going to shoot you in the head if you win'. The suspect is understood to have described himself as a terrorist on social media. The post on X was made on May 8, on the day of the local elections, but the suspect was only arrested yesterday – almost two months later, and six days after Ms Widdecombe was found dead in the kitchen of her remote Dartmoor bungalow. Officers from the Metropolitan Police told Mr Farage this morning that a male had been arrested on suspicion of sending a threatening communication. He has since been released on bail. Mr Farage revealed yesterday that he gets 30 death threats a week. Reform UK said it has recorded 1,577 threats against him since February, including 597 death threats. The figures include multiple threats from a number of individuals whom the party believes are 'fixated' with the idea of killing him.