A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of former UK MP and government minister Ann Widdecombe.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the suspect, a white British man, was detained at an address in Newton Abbot, Devon, on Friday and remains in police custody.
Widdecombe, 78, was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, a rural area in Dartmoor, Devon, at around 11.40am BST on Thursday after emergency services were called to the property.
Police said the incident is not being treated as terrorism despite counter-terror officers being involved during the initial stages of the investigation.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said there was currently no evidence suggesting the death was politically motivated, adding that it was too early to determine whether the suspect had any connection with Widdecombe.
He said the investigation was still at an early stage and urged members of the public with relevant information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, to come forward.
Widdecombe’s family has been informed and is receiving support from specially trained officers.
The death of the former Conservative minister shocked political leaders across the UK, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describing the news as “really shocking”.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she was stunned by the development, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he was deeply upset by the circumstances surrounding Widdecombe’s death.
Widdecombe served as the Member of Parliament for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and held ministerial positions in the Home Office and employment department under former prime minister Sir John Major’s government.
After leaving Parliament, she became a familiar face in the entertainment industry, appearing on programmes including Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
She later became involved with Brexit politics, serving as a Member of the European Parliament before joining Reform UK in 2023, where she worked as the party’s immigration and justice spokesperson.
Police have maintained a cordon around her home while forensic teams continue investigations. Officers are also conducting door-to-door enquiries and reviewing available footage from the surrounding area.
Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson urged the public not to speculate about the case, particularly on social media, warning that unverified claims could affect the investigation and cause further distress to Widdecombe’s family.
Neighbours described Widdecombe as a well-liked and memorable figure, with one resident saying she was devastated by the news and could not understand why anyone would want to harm her.
Widdecombe had remained active in public life and made a media appearance on TalkTV just a day before her death.
Her former Strictly Come Dancing partner Anton Du Beke also paid tribute, describing the news as deeply saddening and expressing his shock over her passing.
