Man arrested as part of murder investigation into death of Ann Widdecombe
A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of former MP and government minister Ann Widdecombe.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the man, a white British national, was arrested at an address in Newton Abbot, Devon, on Friday and remains in custody.
The body of the 78-year-old former Conservative minister and UK Reform spokesman was found seriously injured by police at his home in the village of Haytor on rural Devon’s Dartmoor at around 11.40am on Thursday.
The incident is not considered terrorism due to the involvement of anti-terrorism police within the scope of “initial investigations”.
Deputy Chief Constable Matt Longman told a press conference on Friday that they “did not have any information to believe this was a politically motivated crime” and that it was “too early” to comment on whether the suspect was known to Widdecombe.
He said the investigation was in the early stages and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Widdecombe’s relatives have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
The Prime Minister and other political leaders said they were stunned by the development on Friday afternoon.
Sir Keir Starmer said it was “truly shocking”, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was “stunned to hear this terrible news”.
Reform England leader Nigel Farage said he was “deeply saddened by the nature of her death”.
Widdecombe’s political career spanned decades. He was MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and was Home Secretary and employment minister in Sir John Major’s government from 1994 to 1997.
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 leaving the EU, he was an MP for the Brexit Party representing South West England in the European Parliament between 2019 and 2020.
Widdecombe joined Farage’s UK Reform party in 2023 after changing its name from the Brexit Party, and has made a number of appearances as the party’s immigration and justice spokesman.
