Detectives have arrested a 26-year-old British man on suspicion of murdering former MP Ann Widdecombe after she was found dead inside her remote Dartmoor home.
The firebrand politician, 78, was discovered covered in blood with serious head injuries, according to reports.
Police were called to her home in Haytor, an idyllic village inside Dartmoor National Park, Devon, at around 11.40am on Thursday morning.
The former Conservative prisons minister, who later became a Brexit Party MEP and subsequently a Reform UK spokeswoman, was found inside the property, where she lived alone.
Detectives from Devon and Cornwall Police’s major crime investigation team announced they had arrested a white British man on Friday afternoon in the nearby town of Newton Abbott.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said police remain open-minded as to whether the murder was politically motivated or if Ms Widdecombe knew the suspect, who remains in police custody.
He said the inquiry was “in its early stages” and was “moving at significant pace” but confirmed her death was not being treated as a terrorist incident, although the force has consulted with Counter Terrorism Policing.
“We are deploying all the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened,” he added. “I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.”
“There are road closures in place around the scene, and the public will see significant police activity in the area while detectives and other officers continue house-to-house and CCTV inquiries.”
Earlier, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said he would not speculate over whether the attack was politically motivated as he urged anyone with information over the “clearly dangerous” suspect to come forward.
Speaking at his countryside retreat at Chequers, he 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.
“I’ve spoken to the chief constable this afternoon about the details and I think this is really important that this is a moment where we rise above any political differences, the political divide and say the single most important thing at the moment is that all of us and the public help the police identify the individual suspected and make sure he’s arrested as quickly as possible.
“He’s clearly dangerous, and I implore everybody who’s got any information in relation to him to help the police with their inquiries, get him into police custody.”
The probe comes after the murders of MPs David Amess and Jo Cox, which have sparked widespread calls for an end to political violence, although the motive and circumstances behind Ms Widdecombe’s death are unclear.
Tory MP David Amess was stabbed to death while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on 15 October 2021. The 69-year-old father of five was a “close friend” of Ms Widdecombe, who was the godmother to one of his children.
Sir David’s killer, Ali Harbi Ali, was found guilty of murder and handed a whole-life prison term at the Old Bailey in 2022.
Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed by neo-Nazi Thomas Mair in her Batley and Spen constituency just days before the EU referendum in June 2016.
Kemi Badenoch said she was “stunned” by news of the “horrific” attack, which came after Ms Widdecombe’s last public appearance on Wednesday, when she appeared on Talk radio.
The Conservative leader said: “I’ve been stunned to hear this awful news. To be honest, I’ve really struggled to find the words to say. Ann Widdecombe was a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind and she was 78 years old, she was an elderly woman.
“I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrific to an elderly person. It was a nasty, horrific attack and my heart is breaking for her family.
“It’s one thing when someone dies, but to know that they’ve been murdered in this horrible way is just awful. The Conservative Party is reeling. Ann was a long-standing member of the Conservative Party, she was a Conservative minister, and then she moved to Reform.
“I’m sure they’re just as stunned as we are, and I extend my condolences to Nigel Farage and everyone in Reform on behalf of the Conservative Party, because we’ve both lost a friend.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton Du Beke, who was partnered with the politician on the show in 2010, said he was “devastated”.
In a video shared on X prior to police announcing they had launched a murder probe, he said: “I had the most brilliant time with Ann on Strictly Come Dancing.
“She became a real friend. She was fun. She was upbeat. She was positive. She was supportive. We had an incredible time together and we stayed firm friends.”
Ms Widdecombe’s management firm Cloud 9 urged people with information to contact the police and said: “We are absolutely devastated by this news following a very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours.”
Neighbours near her rural home, which was called ‘Widdecombe’s rest’, have reacted with horror. Police forensic teams were combing the property on Friday evening and locals have been warned to expect a heightened police presence as the investigation continues.
A neighbour who lived 200 yards away said he saw a large police presence at her house yesterday before waking up and seeing the news.
Craig Matthews, who lives with his wife and works as an estate manager, said he had only met her a couple of times at the village shop. He told The Independent that “nothing ever happens” in Haytor, and everyone leaves their doors open.
“I didn’t agree with her politically but never wished anything like this to happen to anyone,” he added. “It’s quite shocking, everyone is in shock and disbelief,” he said.
One neighbour, who did not wish to be identified, said Ms Widdecombe had a gardener who used to come every week on a Thursday. She said he arrived yesterday morning and she heard his strimmer and then it stopped. The police and ambulance arrived soon after.
Another neighbour said she used to put Reform posters up around her house.
“She was just a sweet little old lady,” they said. “She used to say hello when I cycled past her. I hated her politics but she was perfectly nice.”
Ms Widdecombe remained politically active up until her death, friends said. She would travel the country to attend events for Reform, the Nigel Farage-led party she joined after a long career in the Conservatives.
She was also a member of a WhatsApp group of ex-pro Brexit MEPs, where she ran a ‘swear box’ fining other members if their language got fruity, especially after a night out.
“And, of course, then she once swore and there was a pile on,” a friend told The Independent.
Devoted to her home on the edge of Dartmoor, in 2024 she wrote in a newspaper column “it goes without saying that I have long since given up trying to convince anybody that I really do prefer to live alone and that the last thing I want is anybody else permanently around the place”.
