Man arrested on suspicion of murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he will resign amid political turmoil
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned amid significant political turmoil, announcing his decision outside Number 10 Downing Street. Fox News senior foreign affairs correspondent Greg Palkot reported that Starmer’s leadership is plagued by economic struggles, immigration issues and waning support from the Labor Party. Andy Burnham, a popular former mayor, is now seen as one of the candidates to become Britain’s seventh Prime Minister in a decade.
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A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of former British member of Parliament and reality TV contestant Ann Widdecombe, police said.
Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at his home on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in southwest England on Thursday. Officials said the woman died of serious injuries, Reuters reported.
The suspect’s name was not disclosed.
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British MEP Ann Widdecombe (R) of the Brexit Party speaks during a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on January 14, 2020. Authorities said Widdecombe was found dead in his home this week and a 26-year-old man was arrested. (Jean-François Badias/AP)
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This is truly shocking news and my thoughts, and I think all our thoughts, will be with Ann Widdecombe’s family and friends at this terrible time.” “Ann was an outstanding politician with many accomplishments over many years and this is a very, very great loss.”
Devon and Cornwall Police Deputy Chief Matt Longman said investigators did not believe the murder was politically motivated.
“Our murder investigation is still in its early stages but is progressing at a significant pace,” Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement.
Starmer said the safety of MPs was “hugely important” and urged people to overcome political differences.
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Former British MP Ann Widdecombe reads a statement outside the Old Bailey in London following the sentencing of Ali Harbi Ali in the murder trial of the late British MP David Amess. (John Sibley/Reuters)
Widdecombe served in Parliament but rose to fame after leaving office as a contestant on reality television shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. He later joined the Brexit Party and became a spokesperson for the UK Reform Party, which is anti-mass immigration.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in a post on
Cloud9 Management, which has represented Widdecombe for more than a decade, said his life was guided by his “strong Christian values and commitment to public service”.
The company said in a social media post: “She loved the sharp edge of political debate and, 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still actively campaigning for UK Reformation and offering clear views on hot topics of the day on numerous radio and television programs (sic). Ann was a valued patron of many causes, particularly animal charities.” the company stated in a social media post.
Ann Widdecombe, Brexit Party member and then-member of the European Parliament, speaks at the Brexit Party press conference in London on 27 August 2019. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)
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Two sitting British members of parliament have been murdered in the past decade.
In the middle of the Brexit campaign in 2016, Labor MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed by a Nazi-obsessed loner. Conservative MP David Amess was fatally stabbed in 2021 by a man inspired by the Islamic State terror group.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
