EXCLUSIVE : IAberdeen University staffer says backlash to Ann Widdecombe comments ‘overblown’
Heather Herbert, a former Scottish Labour candidate, who is a web developer at the university, said that she hoped the former Tory minister suffered an “extremely painful death”.
“I hope she was handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony,” Herbert wrote on Bluesky, referencing comments made by Widdecombe when she was prisons minister...
In response to the row, Herbert told The National that she felt the response to her post has been “hugely overblown”.
“I get that people are upset with me but it does seem to be the same people who are upset are also the people who have been spending the past few years calling me a snowflake for being upset with them when they call me a pedo or groomer, almost like it was never about free speech,” she said.
A petition has been launched which demands there be a formal review of Herbert’s comments and many people have called for her dismissal. Her comments have been described as “sick” by commenters.
Aberdeen University rector Iona Fyfe added on social media she had received a significant number of emails about Herbert’s remarks but highlighted she has no responsibility over the behaviour of staff.
In response to her posts being raised with the university, Herbert said: “I’m not sure why people are dragging them into it.
“Be upset with me, yeah ok, that’s fine, but the uni? What does it have to do with them?
“I guess it’s silly season, so people have nothing else to report on.”
An Aberdeen University employee has been arrested and charged over social media comments about the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe.
Heather Herbert had reportedly posted that Widdecombe’s death on Thursday was “good news” and that she hoped it was an “extremely painful death”.
Her posts were reported to Police Scotland who initially said there was no criminality in relation to what she had written.
The force then confirmed the case was under investigation and a 50-year-old has now been arrested and charged…