Everything we know so far about the murder of Ann Widdecombe
The former politician was found dead at her home on Dartmoor on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries
Former MP Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries.
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Counter terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death, after “new information and evidence has come to light”, Counter Terrorism Policing South East said on Monday.
Here is everything we know so far about the incident:
Where did she die?
The force said they were called to the 78-year-old’s home in Haytor at around 11.40am on Thursday by the ambulance service.
It said Miss Widdecombe was found dead inside at her home, having sustained “serious injuries”.
The police said her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
It later emerged, Devon & Cornwall Police believe Widdecombe was attacked inside her home at 12:30pm on Wednesday, 8 July meaning she was found 24 hours after her death.
How has the investigation developed?
On Friday, a 26-year-old white British man was arrested at an address in Newton Abbot on suspicion of the murder of Miss Widdecombe.
Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said at that time that the case was “not being treated as terrorism” and there was “no information” at this time to suggest it was a “politically-motivated crime”.
On Saturday morning, the police confirmed that the man has been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation.
Mr Longman said the investigation was moving at a “significant pace” and appealed for anyone who may have information about the incident to come forward.
On Saturday, a 28-year-old white British man was arrested at an address in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on suspicion of murder.
In the same update, police said they did not believe the crime was politically motivated and that they are keeping an "open mind" as to motive.
On Monday afternoon, Counter Terrorism Policing South East said Counter terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death after “new information and evidence has come to light”.
Who is Ann Widdecombe?
Miss Widdecombe was a Conservative MP between 1987 and 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald, and held several ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government.
In her post-Commons career, she appeared on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, partnered with Anton du Beke, and reached the semi-finals thanks to the public vote.
She became a member of Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party from 2019 and served as an MEP representing South West England in Brussels between 2019 and 2020.
Miss Widdecombe became immigration and justice spokeswoman for Mr Farage’s Reform UK and remained active in the media – she appeared on TalkTV on Wednesday, the day before she was found dead.
Miss Widdecombe was also due to be a guest on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show on Wednesday, but did not appear, as first reported by ITV.
She had exchanged messages with a researcher from the show, but did not respond when they tried to contact her to join a Zoom call from home.
Calls and texts sent after the programme aired remained unanswered, ITV said, and the Channel 5 show’s team followed up with her agent later on Wednesday and on Thursday.
How has the political world reacted?
In a statement on social media, Reform UK leader Mr Farage said the former MP’s death and the subsequent police murder investigation was a “terrible reflection on modern Britain”.
In a video statement published on social media, he added: “And I do fear that for anybody in public life, or especially the political space, things have become even more dangerous today.”
On Sunday, it was reported Reform UK MPs are being given 24h security protection, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged people to come together across political divides following the murder.
He said he had spoken to his likely successor Andy Burnham, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Mr Farage to “urge everybody to come together at a moment like this”.
Conservative leader Mrs Badenoch said she “really struggled to find the words to say” following Miss Widdecombe’s death.
“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,” she added.