Man, 26, arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe after the former MP and reality TV contestant was found dead by her carer at her home suffering serious injuries. It is understood she was found covered in blood after sustaining a serious head wound. Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating whether Widdecombe, 78, interrupted a burglary at her home in Haytor Vale, Devon, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, where she lived alone. The suspect, whom police described as a white British man, was arrested at a home in Newton Abbot on Friday and remains in custody. Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone, and later Maidstone and The Weald, from 1987 to 2010. Before entering Parliament, she was a councillor and worked for the Conservative Party. She served as employment minister and later prisons minister in John Major’s government between 1993 and 1997, before becoming shadow home secretary under William Hague. She found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the reality television shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. Widdecombe later joined the Brexit Party in 2019 and became a spokeswoman for Reform UK. Police investigation ongoing Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said the murder investigation is not being treated as terrorism and there is no information to suggest a politically motivated crime. He told reporters it was too early to comment if the suspect was known to Widdecombe, adding: “We remain open-minded throughout the investigation, and we’re making those inquiries.” Police outside the house of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor in Dartmoor. (Photo: Matt Keeble/PA Wire) Police presence will remain high in the area over the weekend, with officers carrying out house-to-house and CCTV inquiries, but there is no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat to the community, Longman said. Earlier, Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said: “This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time.” The murder investigation is ongoing, with police continuing to appeal for information. Ann Widdecombe was found at her home in Devon (Photo: Sky News) Tributes pour in after ‘nasty, horrific attack’ Speaking to reporters at Chequers, Sir Keir Starmer said the security of lawmakers was “of the utmost importance” as he urged people to rise above any political differences. The Prime Minister said: “This is really shocking news, and my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this awful time for them. “Ann was a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements, and it’s a huge, huge loss.” Security has been tightened for politicians after the murders of two serving members of Parliament in the past decade. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group. The Home Secretary urged the public not to speculate about Widdecombe’s death, describing the circumstances as “extremely distressing”. Shabana Mahmood said: “The Home Office stands ready to provide whatever support [police] need with their ongoing investigation.” The Prime Minister called Widdecombe’s passing ‘a huge, huge loss’ (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty) Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said her “heart is breaking” for Ann Widdecombe’s family following news of her death. The Conservative leader said she was “stunned to hear this awful news”, remembering Widdecombe as a “very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind”. She said: “I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrific to an elderly person. “It is a nasty, horrific attack and my heart is breaking for her family. “It’s one thing when someone dies, but to know that they have been murdered in this horrible way is just awful.” Badenoch also extended her condolences “to Nigel Farage and everyone in Reform, on behalf of the Conservative Party, because we’ve both lost a friend”. Widdecombe’s last interview Widdecombe remained active in politics until her death and gave what became her final television interview on Talk on Wednesday with presenter Mark Dolan, who told The Sun: “She had so much more living to do.” She had appeared on the breakfast show to discuss Nigel Farage’s resignation as an MP. In a statement on social media, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the former MP and MEP’s death, and subsequent police murder investigation, was a “terrible reflection on modern Britain”. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said on Facebook he was devastated to hear of her death and described Widdecombe as “a true political legend” and “one of the finest orators of her generation”. Former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson said: “I am sad to hear about the loss of Ann Widdecombe, a heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker who could move Tory audiences to such ecstasy that she was a very hard act to follow.” Miss Widdecombe was also due to be a guest on Channel 5’s Matt Alright show on Wednesday afternoon, but did not appear, as first reported by ITV. She had exchanged messages with a researcher from the show, but did not respond when they tried to contact her to join a Zoom call from home. Calls and texts sent after the programme aired remained unanswered, ITV said, and the Channel 5 show’s team followed up with her agent later on Wednesday and on Thursday. A life driven by Christian values Cloud9, the management company that represented Widdecombe after she left politics, said her life and career were driven by strong Christian values and a commitment to public service.“She loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK and offering forthright views on the hot topics of the day.” Cloud9 Management added that Ann once said: “We get one go this side of eternity, one go. Life is not a dress rehearsal; you take opportunities that you like and you go for it. That’s my philosophy.” This is a developing story and will be updated.