Ann Widdecombe backed Nigel Farage in pre-recorded interview just 20 minutes before she died

It was revealed today that Ann Widdecombe supported Reform England leader Nigel Farage in a pre-recorded interview just 20 minutes before her death.

Ms Widdecombe, 78, was found dead in her home by a gardener on Thursday morning, sparking a major murder investigation and manhunt.

A 28-year-old man from Rotherham has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being questioned by counter-terrorism police who have taken over the investigation.

He was arrested again yesterday on suspicion of committing, preparing or inciting terrorist acts.

Ms Widdecombe is believed to have recorded her last interview for Christian radio station TWR-UK between 11.54am and 12.10pm on Wednesday.

Police believe the woman was attacked a few minutes later at 12.30pm.

In the interview, the former MP and MP, who is a spokesperson for Reform UK, was said to be genuinely outspoken as he fiercely defended Farage amid scrutiny over his finances.

He backed the decision to call a by-election in the Clacton-on-Sea constituency in Essex, amid speculation about a £5 million gift from a cryptocurrency billionaire as well as donations to Reform UK.

The interview was not published because it was to be broadcast within the week. It has now been published with the permission of Ms Widdecombe’s family.

The suspect was captured on CCTV leaving the property with a pole in his shorts pocket shortly before 8am on Wednesday morning.

Forensic officers were seen entering the Rotherham home following the arrest on Saturday.

In a clip from the recording now broadcast on Times Radio, he is heard saying: ‘I think first of all the very protracted nature of it, which, as I said, came with constant speculation in the press, and also the fact that he was answering to the standards committee for one thing and then suddenly something else came up, again referencing the time before he became an MP, to a time when he wasn’t actually even an active politician.

‘And he’s probably thinking: Where is this going to end? ‘Let’s put an end to this, let’s bring this to a head, let’s present it to people to see what they think about all this.’

He also touched on the ‘politics of personal destruction’, saying: ‘There’s been a game going on for a very long time, a game of personal destruction, not just for Nigel but for so many politicians who are facing it.’

Farage argues that the £5 million donation was given personally, even though he is not an active politician, and therefore he does not need to declare it.

Interviewer James Maidment-Fullard said he told police about the interview, but officers did not request a recording.

Miss Widdecombe was found dead in a pool of blood on her kitchen floor on Thursday and police believe she had been lying there for about 24 hours.

Officers narrowed down the time period when they believed the woman was attacked after CCTV captured a car driving into the politician’s path just before 12.30am.

He was due to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show at 1pm and at 12.19pm he had exchanged messages with a producer about accessing the Zoom link.

But he suddenly stopped responding to them, as requests to join the link and subsequent phone calls went unanswered.

Gifts of flowers were left on the lawn outside Mrs Widdecombe’s bungalow in Haytor, Dorset

Reform England leader Nigel Farage laid flowers in memory of Ms Widdecombe last week

Officers initially focused on the theory that Ms Widdecombe had disturbed a burglar at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, even though nothing had been taken from the £600,000 property.

Two days after the murder detectives mistakenly arrested a local worker, then detained a 28-year-old man in Rotherham, 270 miles away, on Saturday night.

The suspect was seen getting into a car at a property in the town shortly before 8am on Wednesday, carrying a long object.

Daily Mail has learned that items belonging to various political ideologies, including Russian materials, were found in the suspect’s home and electronic devices.

However, researchers do not believe there is any evidence of hostile state intervention.

Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether the ‘lone wolf’ targeted Ms Widdecombe because of her political views, which she regularly expressed on TV and radio shows advocating Reformation as the party’s immigration and justice spokesperson.

Sources said detectives discovered material suggesting political ideology may have been a factor in motive, although they stressed the investigation was still at an early stage.

The suspect, who lived alone with his dog, was arrested at his home at 9pm on Saturday and is believed to have traveled 270 miles to the Widdecombe home.

Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood confirmed that he was not involved in the counter-terrorism programme, Prevent.

Today, it was revealed that a relative of the suspect made a post on social media questioning Nigel Farage’s safety on the day he died.

The suspect’s family member was making the comments last Wednesday after Reform England leader Farage’s decision to resign from his seat in Clacton triggered a by-election amid allegations about his political donations.

In his post, other users on the platform were asked whether it was really too dangerous for the Reform MP to perform his surgeries in his own constituency.