Burnham apologises for comments on Widdecombe murder case

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 19:02 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has apologised after referring to an 'individual' being 'responsible for the murder' of Ann Widdecombe during Prime Minister's Questions. Shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman accused Burnham of breaching the presumption of innocence, calling for an apology.

Burnham has since corrected the official parliamentary record, Hansard. A Downing Street spokeswoman said a correction has been issued and will be published in due course. When pressed on whether the Prime Minister understood the code, she added: 'The fact that we have issued an update speaks for itself.'

Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, was arrested on suspicion of murder on 11 July, two days after Widdecombe, 78, was discovered dead at her property in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon. A trial before a High Court judge has been scheduled for 8 June next year, with a plea and case management hearing set for 29 January. Kerry has also been charged with a terror plot against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Burnham apologises for comments on Widdecombe murder case — Image: Huddersfield Examiner

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How it is being reported

Andy Burnham's red-face apology after Ann Widdecombe death comment blunderAndy Burnham has apologised and corrected the record after saying an 'individual' was 'responsible for the murder' of Ann Widdecombe during Prime Minister's QuestionsHuddersfield Examiner · 15 Oct, 18:23
Tories urge Burnham to apologise over comments about Ann Widdecombe murder caseAndy Burnham should apologise for saying an “individual” was “responsible for the murder” of Ann Widdecombe, shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman said, adding the Prime Minister’s remark was a “breach of the presumption of innocence”.Yorkshire Post · 14 Oct, 17:40

In this story: Andy Burnham · Ann Widdecombe · Jesse Norman · Joshua Kerry · Nigel Farage · Haytor · Rotherham · Reform UK

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