British counterterrorism officers announced on Tuesday that the late Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and prominent Reform UK figure, was killed in a “targeted attack.”
The 78‑year‑old widow was discovered deceased at her residence in Haytor, Devon, on Thursday, with serious injuries.
A 28‑year‑old white British man from Rotherham, roughly 270 miles north of the crime scene, was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of murder and later also held on suspicion of preparing or instigating terrorism‑related acts.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of British counterterrorism policing, told reporters that the suspect could be detained for up to seven days before any charge or release.
Taylor emphasized that the incident appears to have been deliberately directed at Widdecombe, noting that investigators are examining the planning, preparation and motive behind the attack.
Widdecombe served as a minister under Prime Minister John Major in the 1990s and more recently became a high‑profile advocate for Reform UK, the party led by Nigel Farage.
Some Reform officials have questioned the police handling of the case. Initially, Devon and Cornwall Police said there was no evidence of a politically motivated motive, even after learning the suspect had traveled a long distance to Widdecombe’s home.
Alison Hernandez, the elected police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, acknowledged the criticism but defended the force’s actions, stating that new information often emerges during fast‑moving investigations.
Taylor reported that extensive searches were conducted at the Rotherham address where the suspect was arrested and that digital forensic examinations are underway.
At this stage the attack has not been formally classified as a terrorist incident, though the investigation remains complex and includes the possibility that other Reform party politicians may have been targeted.
The killing has heightened concerns about the safety of British politicians amid rising online abuse and threats. In the past decade, two MPs — Jo Cox and David Amess — were murdered, each by attackers with extremist motivations.
Although no longer a sitting MP, Widdecombe frequently appeared in the media on behalf of Reform in the days leading up to her death. Police are exploring whether her recent television appearances influenced the attack.
On Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood offered Nigel Farage a meeting with the head of an independent Home Office security committee overseeing protection for public figures. Farage accepted the invitation, saying he would discuss the security of all Reform politicians.