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Trans person former Labour candidate Heather Herbert has been charged for disgusting comments about Ann Widdecombe

(106 Posts)
Primrose53 Thu 16-Jul-26 22:25:32

Thank goodness for that! At last someone has seen sense and done the right thing in getting him/her arrested and charged.

I hope he/she loses his/her job too.

Wyllow3 Thu 16-Jul-26 22:36:28

Stop trying to pin everything on the Labour Party or lefties, Primrose. She was only a candidate.

Jamie (now Katie) Wallis was the first openly transgender Member of Parliament.
Wallis served as the Conservative MP for Bridgend in Wales from 2019 to 2024.

Its all about how you treat people - ie with decency, honesty and respect that matters, not your gender issue

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Thu 16-Jul-26 22:39:09

Ah the “be kind” movement.

Then ‘they’re’ not. Annoys the hell out of me.

Gingster Thu 16-Jul-26 22:40:03

What an absolutely vile person

Wyllow3 Thu 16-Jul-26 22:51:55

Yes, she is.

No I'm not a be kind person, FGT, I've had a pretty tough time recently with someone who is trans and stood up for myself tho the situation made it very hard..

But as you know I was also Sexually Assaulted in October by a Man who was Mr Doing Good In the World Mr Nice Guy respected et al..

My feeling remains its all about how people are with each other how people treat each other!

NathanaelWest Fri 17-Jul-26 00:02:48

Regardless of the person's gender or political beliefs, those kind of comments should not be tolerated.

I think Mark Twain is often credited with saying: I have never wished anyone dead but smiled at a few obituaries.

I can understand that. Maybe you might feel good at a certain person leaving this mortal coil, but to make the kind of comments publicly that this person did... Come on, use your common sense.

Anyway, they have been punished now. Hard lesson to learn.

nanna8 Fri 17-Jul-26 01:56:22

Good that they were punished and balances the two tier claim somewhat.

Maremia Fri 17-Jul-26 05:32:30

So, would a more accurate heading be, former Conservative MP for Bridgend?

Dickens Fri 17-Jul-26 06:00:03

NathanaelWest

I think Mark Twain is often credited with saying: I have never wished anyone dead but smiled at a few obituaries.

... in an era before social media!

One thing is apparent - the restraint with which individuals used to conduct themselves, according to the societal mores of the times, has been completely abandoned.

I do think social media is partly to blame, it's given anyone and everyone a voice, and oh boy they are using it in some quarters like a strident megaphone!

Perhaps we should be teaching our young to have a bit more of it - restraint - sometimes simply sharing your immediate gut reactions with friends and family is a better option than trumpeting it to the world at large. And, I think, maybe there's ego involved in this particular case - this unpleasant individual should've considered whether their opinion mattered more than anyone else's before blasting it via the Tannoy of social media.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 17-Jul-26 06:06:57

I thought this person worked at a university.

Isn’t the OP misleading?

Does anyone know what the charge is?

GrannyGravy13 Fri 17-Jul-26 07:10:37

Whitewavemark2

I thought this person worked at a university.

Isn’t the OP misleading?

Does anyone know what the charge is?

Heather Herbert is a web designer at Aberdeen University

BBC saying the charge was due to her social media post good news, I hope it was an extremely painful death

She has been charged, they are not saying exact details.

A report is being sent to the procurator fiscal.

Source -BBC

25Avalon Fri 17-Jul-26 07:18:18

It was a horrible disgusting thing to say and reflects badly on the person who said it especially as they show no remorse. No decent person left or right wing would be saying such things.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 17-Jul-26 07:22:26

HH was a former Labour Candidate, she is now apparently a member of the Greens

Whitewavemark2 Fri 17-Jul-26 07:25:38

I more than agree with the comments regarding his posts - but am wondering about the law?

Freedom of speech of course is limited to a degree in this country. I am just wondering what he is being charged under?

Cossy Fri 17-Jul-26 07:28:13

Good! People need to learn words do matter!

Galaxy Fri 17-Jul-26 07:34:08

This is a man. Pretending these words are from a woman is pure misogyny.
And thank god as far as I can see all of those people have talked about free speech in terms of feminists are holding the line. We should not have people arrested for words however much we hate the words. His speech is vile but he should not be arrested for it.
My only caveat is we don't know what else has been found. I have seen other things on his social media which raise very serious concerns.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 17-Jul-26 07:35:43

What I am trying to say is that his comments about Ann Widdecombe were in the poorest taste imaginable, but do they fall under the freedom of speech act? Or is it something else that he has been arrested for?

Whitewavemark2 Fri 17-Jul-26 07:36:59

Blimey galaxy we seem to be in agreement! Something is wrong!!

Galaxy Fri 17-Jul-26 07:40:13

We are Whitewave grin.
I would just say though from what i can see there are lots of other things going on, I would guess ongoing investigation, etc.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 17-Jul-26 07:42:09

Yes that’s what I’m beginning to think. I won’t comment further, as it tips into speculation, but it is interesting in a ghastly sort of way.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 17-Jul-26 07:43:02

Speculation over the Widdecombe case I mean not Herbert’s.

Sago Fri 17-Jul-26 07:50:04

I think this person is to say the least obsessive, I did some googling.
They have over 40 requests to the FOI.

Galaxy Fri 17-Jul-26 08:02:20

My strongest advice as someone said to me on another thread is if you look into HH be prepared for er unusual behaviour.

eazybee Fri 17-Jul-26 08:10:01

It's all about how you treat people - ie with decency, honesty and respect that matters, not your gender issue.

Exactly. And decency, honesty and respect is very much lacking in the actions of Heather Herbert.
I would imagine the arrest came because of the deeply unpleasant remarks about how he hoped Ann Widdecombe died rather than the comment expressing glee at the news of her death, and also 'additional information'.

Sarnia Fri 17-Jul-26 08:17:58

I very much doubt that there are any politicians who are universally liked. However, the circumstances surrounding Ann Widdecombe's death are deeply upsetting for her family, friends and colleagues. That, in itself should be enough for those who did not like her to keep their opinions to themselves. Sadly, social media allows the haters to spread their vitriol far and wide. I hope they throw the book at her/him.