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A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of former MP and government minister Ann Widdecombe.<\/b><\/p>\n
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the man, who is a white British national, was arrested at an address in Newton Abbot, Devon, on Friday and is in custody.<\/p>\n
The body of the 78-year-old former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson was found by police with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, a rural village on Dartmoor in Devon, at about 11:40 BST on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The incident is not being treated as terrorism, after counter-terror policing was involved as part of “initial enquiries”.<\/p>\n
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman told a news conference on Friday they currently have “no information to believe that that is a politically motivated crime” – and it was “too early” to comment on whether or not the suspect was known to Widdecombe.<\/p>\n
He said the investigation was in the early stages and urged anyone with information to come forward. <\/p>\n
Widdecombe’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers. <\/p>\n
The prime minister and other political leaders said they were stunned by the development on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Sir Keir Starmer said it was “really shocking”, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was “stunned to hear this awful news”.<\/p>\n
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he was “deeply, deeply upset by the nature of her death”.<\/p>\n
Widdecombe’s political career spanned decades. She served as MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years, and worked as a Home Office and employment minister in Sir John Major’s government between 1994 to 1997.<\/p>\n
After leaving Parliament she embarked on a showbiz career, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.<\/p>\n
A staunch supporter of the UK’s departure from the EU, she became an MEP for the Brexit Party, representing South West England in the European Parliament between 2019 and 2020.<\/p>\n
In 2023, Widdecombe joined Farage’s Reform UK party, after it changed its name from the Brexit Party, and made a number of appearances as the party’s immigration and justice spokesperson.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n