Ann Widdecombe murder probe: What we know so far

Widdecombe’s political career spanned decades; He was MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and was Home Secretary and employment minister in John Major’s government between 1994 and 1997.

Following news of the police investigation, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was “shocking news” and his thoughts were with Widdecombe’s family “at this terrible time”.

Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said she had spoken to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and Andy Burnham “to urge everyone to come together”.

Badenoch said he was “stunned” and “really struggled to find the words.”

He added: “Ann Widdecombe was a very funny and feisty woman who spoke her mind.

“She was 78. She was an old woman. I don’t understand how someone could do such a terrible thing to an old person.”

“It was a disgusting, horrific attack. My heart breaks for his family.”

He continued: “It’s one thing for someone to die, but it’s terrible to know that he was killed in such a horrific way.”

Widdecombe was born in Bath, Somerset, in 1947 and studied Latin at the University of Birmingham, then philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University.

After leaving Parliament she embarked on a showbiz career, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

A staunch supporter of Britain’s departure from the EU, he was an MP for the Brexit Party representing South West England in the European Parliament between 2019 and 2020.

In 2023, Widdecombe joined Nigel Farage’s Reform UK after the party changed its name from the Brexit Party, making a number of appearances as the party’s immigration and justice spokesman.