Police investigate circumstances of Ann Widdecombe’s ‘suspicious’ death amid fears she was murdered at Devon home
Police are understood to be investigating the circumstances surrounding Ann Widdecombe’s death today.
Friends of the former Conservative minister turned Strictly Come Dancing star said they had been told by civil servants to prepare for “bad news” and a press conference would be held this afternoon.
Ms Widdecombe was pronounced dead aged 78 after she was found at her home in Devon this morning.
The fearless politician was a permanent fixture in British public life thanks to his long political career as a no-nonsense, tough-talking and opinionated figure on the right.
Ms Widdecombe, a Catholic convert, was known for her strong views on moral issues such as abortion, gay marriage and had a zero-tolerance approach to drugs.
He also strongly argued that net zero policies ‘don’t mean Britain needs to suffer’ and claimed the science of climate change is ‘seriously debated’.
He was also a passionate supporter of Brexit, controversially describing the UK leaving the EU as ‘slaves’ rising up ‘against their masters’.
This journey eventually led him to leave his beloved Tory party and join the Brexit Party. He was elected member of the European Parliament in the south-west after Theresa May failed to secure a Brexit deal he could support.
Ann Widdecombe appears on Talk TV on Wednesday. His death was announced this morning
Ms Widdecombe is campaigning outside Reform’s Wigan headquarters for the Makerfield by-election on June 13
He later joined Reform UK in 2023 and became a vocal supporter of Nigel Farage, appearing on TalkTV just two days ago to back the party leader ahead of the Clacton by-election.
But although Ms Widdecombe was a formidable figure in politics, she became known to a much wider audience thanks to her appearances as a contestant on Strictly and Celebrity Big Brother.
Their representatives, Cloud 9 Management, said in a statement this morning: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ms Ann Widdecombe DSG today.
‘We extend our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends.’
Mr Farage was among those who paid tribute to Ms Widdecombe today, describing her as an ‘absolute force of nature’.
The Reform UK leader told TalkTV: ‘He didn’t allow any doubt in anyone’s mind on all the important issues of the day and he was tough.
‘So, I can tell you that there were times when I would get a call from Ann and she would suddenly say that she disagreed with what I was doing and saying on the phone.
‘And you know, he’d come to London and we’d have a coffee and talk about everything. But that was Ann’s problem: any disagreements she had with us about policy and direction, and all normal discussions, were always kept behind closed doors.
‘You know, he was an incredibly loyal ally in the community.’
He added that Ms Widdecombe’s move to the Brexit Party was a ‘hugely important’ moment in ‘our political history’: ‘It made us look serious. It made us look real.’
Kemi Badenoch described him as a ‘fantastic politician’.
In a post on social media, the Conservative Party leader said: ‘I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe and the condolences of the Conservative Party.
‘He was a terrific politician who was never afraid to speak his mind and fought hard for what he believed in. His politics, which were always loyal to him, were strongly guided by his faith and values. ‘Rest in peace, Ann.’
