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‘It becomes inevitable’: the toxic mix fuelling deadly political violence around world

The Guardian Politics Saturday 18 July 2026, 12:00 UTC By Jon Henley Europe correspondent 1 min read
Key Points

After killing of a British former MP, experts say dehumanising rhetoric, declining institutional trust and disinformation fuelling a global problemOn 9 July, the body of Ann Widdecombe, an uncompromising, staunchly conservative former UK government minister turned TV personality and spokesperson for the radical-right Reform UK party, was found at her home in south-west England. Two days later, a man was arrested in South Yorkshire. Believed to be previously unknown to the local police force...

After killing of a British former MP, experts say dehumanising rhetoric, declining institutional trust and disinformation fuelling a global problem

On 9 July, the body of Ann Widdecombe, an uncompromising, staunchly conservative former UK government minister turned TV personality and spokesperson for the radical-right Reform UK party, was found at her home in south-west England.

Two days later, a man was arrested in South Yorkshire. Believed to be previously unknown to the local police force and thought to have acted alone, he is suspected of driving 270 miles (435km) to the 78-year-old politician’s home and causing her catastrophic blunt-force injuries. Police have been examining whether a leftwing or single-issue cause may lie behind her killing.

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British (ORG) Ann Widdecombe (PERSON) UK (LOCATION) south-west (LOCATION) England (LOCATION) South Yorkshire (LOCATION)
Originally published by The Guardian Politics Read original →

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