Man Taken Into Custody on Murder Suspicion After Death of Ex-MP Ann Widdecombe

A 26-year-old individual has been taken into custody on suspicion of murder following the death of former Member of Parliament and former government minister Ann Widdecombe.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the suspect, identified as a white British national, was taken into custody at a residence in Newton Abbot, Devon, on Friday.

The remains of the 78-year-old former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson were discovered by authorities at her residence in Haytor, a rural village on Dartmoor in Devon, around 11:40 BST on Thursday.

The incident is not being treated as an act of terrorism; counter‑terrorism officers participated only in initial enquiries.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman stated during a Friday press briefing that there is currently no evidence to suggest the incident is politically motivated and it remains too early to determine whether the suspect had any prior connection to Widdecombe.

He emphasized that the investigation is still in its early stages and appealed to anyone with information to come forward.

Widdecombe’s next of kin have been notified and are receiving support from specially trained officers.

The Prime Minister and other political leaders expressed shock at the developments on Friday afternoon.

Sir Keir Starmer described the situation as ‘really shocking’, whereas Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she was ‘stunned to hear this awful news’.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he was ‘deeply, deeply upset by the nature of her death’.

Widdecombe’s political career spanned several decades; she served as the Member of Parliament for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and held positions as Home Office and Employment Minister in Sir John Major’s government from 1994 to 1997.

After leaving parliamentary office, she pursued a broadcasting career, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

A staunch advocate for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for the South West England region for the Brexit Party, serving from 2019 to 2020.

In 2023, she joined Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party—formerly known as the Brexit Party—and has made several appearances as the party’s spokesperson on immigration and justice.

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