Heather Herbert, who is being investigated by the University of Aberdeen where he works as a web developer, said he hoped the MP suffered an “extremely painful death”.
A university worker who rejoiced in the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe appeared in a video where his pal claimed those who don’t “show love” to trans people should be “shown bullets”. The shock YouTube video featured trans identified male Heather Herbert in conversation with a friend known as Poppybear Hackett, who made the bullet jibe.
Originally broadcast in May this year, the film was highlighted on social media site X by feminist group Women Won’t Wheesht. Herbert sparked fury last week when he posted on social media that it was “good news” that former Tory MP Widdecombe, 78, died after an alleged attack at her home.
Herbert, who is being investigated by the University of Aberdeen where he works as a web developer, also said he hoped the MP suffered an “extremely painful death”. He followed up by adding: “And I hope she was handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony.”
Susan Smith, of the prominent For Women Scotland group, said action needs to be taken over extreme views now coming to light from Herbert and other trans campaigners involved in the Aberdeenshire-based “Polycule”. For Women Scotland campaigner Smith claim she and her colleagues have been called child abusers, terrorists and bigots by Herbert and other campaigners on a web channel called the Polycule.
A polycule is a group of people involved in a series of interconnected relationships. Smith said: “What we have seen most recently is one member of this polycule taking gratification out of the dreadful death of a former MP, an elderly woman. Herbert has glorified in the violence and made no apology.
“The words used chime with the language in the earlier video, which was well noted by us when it was produced. The reference then was to ‘show bullets’ to people who don’t agree with them.
“The big problem here is that these are not just words. They are broadcasting suggestions to people online and we know that these suggestions can be acted on by people who may not be of sound mind.”
The video with the bullet comments was made on the YouTube channel of “The Polycule”, which is generally hosted by Herbert and partner Sophie Molly. In the video from May 4, Herbert was in conversation with another trans-identified male known as Poppybear Hackett.
At the end of their discussion, Hackett says: “What the f*** does it matter what the colour of your skin is, what your sexual orientation is? Why don’t we all just show some love and if people don’t show love show bullets.”
Tweeting the video on Tuesday, feminist group Women Won’t Wheesht said: “They’re scary, frightening men who get a kick out of terrifying women!”
After the furore blew up around Herbert on Monday, Aberdeen University quickly announced they would be investigating. The Scottish Greens are also probing Herbert, who was a candidate for the party.
On Tuesday, a Police Scotland spokesperson said the force was looking into the incident. They added: “We received reports on Saturday, July 11 relating to a post made online. Following further assessment, additional enquiries are being carried out.”
Former Conservative MP Widdecombe was found dead on Thursday at her home in Haytor, Devon, having sustained serious injuries.
A 28-year-old white British man has been arrested and her death is being probed by terrorism cops. Among those to furiously denounce the “bullets” comment was Scottish business guru Marie Macklin.
She tweeted: “This is outrageous. This is toxic and went too far.
“I fear for our young people. Surely any decent person can see and hear this is dangerous rhetoric.
“The ‘Show the Love’ camp talk ‘Hate Speak’ and would be the first on these airwaves if was a woman was making this vile statement, plus they would be calling in the police.
“Is this not ‘hate speak’?”
The Daily Record can reveal that For Women Scotland compiled a dossier of shocking statements made by the Herbert “polycule” about the feminist group. Among the abusive attacks are repeated claims that the respected group, which is strongly supported by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, is a “terrorist organisation”.
Sophie Molly said in one video: ”They are they are extreme bigots and they are the groups that should be proscribed. They are the terrorists. For Women Scotland is a terrorist organization.”
She also said: “For Women Scotland are terrorists and child abusers. Like the number of children they have abused recently is unreal.”
FWS director Susan Smith said their dossier was being kept as a “marker”, in the event of any actual harm being done to any members of FWS. Smith claimed that the “polycule” members have evaded any police action.
She said: “I would hate, in the event that something happened to a member of our organisation, that our loved ones would have to listen or be confronted with this sort of bile.
“I think that organisations have allowed some of these people to run amok, while they will have been the first to report anybody at the university who they think are being using the wrong pronouns or saying they shouldn’t be in the ladies’ toilets, and they will have been reporting people for hate crime.
“They think that anything that thwarts them or upsets them is a crime. But on the other hand, they actually think that the most serious, terrible crimes are jokes, as long as they’re committed against people they don’t like. They think they’re invulnerable.”
Members of the polycule have had various social media accounts shut down recently. The Daily Record contacted Sophie Molly with details of the claims by For Women Scotland and Women Won’t Wheesht against the three polycule members.
We received a reply that stated only “no comment”.
On the BlueSky social media network, Molly stated: “Looks like other people are expressing their article 10 human right to freedom of expression and folk are not happy.
“Right wingers preach for their right to say whatever they want, inc extremely grotesque and bigoted statements about minorities, but never wish to extend that right to their target.”
After the Widdecombe comments appeared on the Bluesky account of Heather Herbert, a University of Aberdeen spokesperson said: “The university is aware of social media posts made by a member of staff regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe and is reviewing this as a matter of priority.
“The comments that have been shared are entirely the individual’s own and do not represent the views of the University of Aberdeen.”
Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years, holding ministerial roles in John Major’s government between 1994 and 1997.
Following her departure from the Commons in 2010, Widdecombe appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing that year, and was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother eight years later.
She joined the Brexit Party in 2019 where she represented South West England as its MEP from 2019 to 2020.
