Man arrested on suspicion of Ann Widdecombe’s murder after body found with serious injuries | News UK

Police have made an arrest in the investigation into Ann Widdecombe‘s ‘suspicious’ death.

Earlier today, the 78-year-old former MP’s representatives issued a statement, confirming that she had died.

It read: ‘It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG.

‘We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.’

No cause of death was shared, but it has since been confirmed that a murder investigation has been launched after Widdecombe was found ‘covered in blood after sustaining a serious head wound’ at her Dartmoor home in Devon yesterday.

A 26-year-old male suspect, a white British national, is now in custody after being arrested at an address in Newton Abbot, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said.

He added in an evening press conference that while the force has ‘consulted counter-terrorism policing’, the death of Widdecombe is not being treated as terror-related.

Responding to media questions on whether the suspect was known to the victim, Longman explained that investigators remain ‘open-minded’, but it is ‘too early to comment further on that at this time’.

Asked whether the incident could have had political motivations, he repeated his prior response, adding: ‘At this time, I have got no information to believe that that is a politically motivated crime.’

This afternoon, the following statement was released by Devon and Cornwall Police: ‘Police officers were called to an address at Haytor by the ambulance service at around 11:40am on Thursday, 9 July.

‘Sadly, 78-year-old Miss Widdecombe was located deceased within the property. She had sustained serious injuries.

‘Her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

‘Detectives from the Force Major Crime Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation and are conducting extensive enquiries into the circumstances surrounding Miss Widdecombe’s death.’

The statement added that a cordon remains outside her property while forensic examinations continue with a heightened police presence. Road closures are also in place.

Shortly after, Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said: ‘This is an extremely tragic incident, and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time.

‘Our murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened and to locate the person responsible, who we believe to be a white male.

‘I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.’

Police are ‘particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Haytor Vale, Haytor, or anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage’ that may be useful.

‘We have an increased uniformed police presence in the area to both support the investigation and provide reassurance to residents. Anyone with concerns can speak with our officers at the scene.’

The second statement concluded: ‘We will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime, I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media.

‘This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Ann Widdecombe.’

A Major Incident Public Portal [MIPP] has been set up for information, images, or footage to be submitted. Anyone with useful information can also contact the police by phone on 101 or through their website, quoting reference 50260179119 and Operation Hunlen.

Information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has further urged the public ‘to avoid speculation and allow the police investigation to progress’, writing on X that the circumstances of Widdecombe’s death are ‘extremely distressing’.

Similarly, outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the development is ‘really shocking’ but stressed the necessity to ‘rise above any political differences’.

Asked whether he believes Widdecombe’s possible murder could have been politically motivated, he responded: ‘It’s really important we remain vigilant. I’m not going to speculate about this particular case.

‘The chief constable has briefed me on the details as they’re known at the moment, but I think it’s very important for us to have in our thoughts the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe, and, to be clear, the single most important thing at the moment is that the suspect is apprehended as quickly as possible by the police.’

Widdecombe’s body was found by a carer who worked for her, The Sun has said. The carer was spoken to by officers at the scene.

The publication added that police are now trying to establish whether the late politician may have died in an accidental fall or whether she was attacked.

Her management has said they are ‘absolutely devastated’ by the murder investigation, which follows ‘a very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours’.

Cloud9 Management added: ‘We fully support the police in their investigations, and we reiterate the family’s desire not to be contacted at this difficult time. We implore anyone who may have relevant information to contact Devon and Cornwall Police.’

Following Widdecombe’s death, many former colleagues and co-stars paid tribute, with the likes of Anton Du Beke, with whom she danced on Strictly in 2010, calling her a ‘real friend’ and Piers Morgan describing her as ‘a wonderfully no-nonsense, straight-talking, highly opinionated British battle-axe’.

Her team at Cloud9 said the politician-turned-media personality ‘loved the cut and thrust of political debate’ and was a ‘consummate professional’.

Widdecombe served as Conservative MP for Maidstone from 1987 until she stood down in 2010.

Following this, she joined Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party in 2019 and served as an MEP representing South West England in Brussels between 2019 and 2020, before backing Reform UK in 2023.

Most recently, she served as the party’s justice and immigration adviser.

A Downing Street spokesperson said today: ‘The Prime Minister was saddened to hear of the death of Ann Widdecombe.

‘She was a distinctive figure in British politics for many years, and he pays tribute to the conviction and dedication with which she served her country.’

Kemi Badenoch also paid tribute to the ‘formidable politician’, and Farage remembered her as an ‘incredibly loyal ally’.

The Reform UK leader told TalkTV: ‘She was an absolute force of nature. She never let anyone… with any doubt in their minds at all where she stood on all the great issues of the day, and she was formidable too.

‘I mean, I can tell you, the times when I used to get a phone call from Ann, abrupt Ann on the phone, saying she disagreed with what I’d done or what I’d said.

‘And you know, she’d come to London, and we’d sit down over a coffee and talk things through. But that was the thing about Ann: that all the disagreements she had with us over policy and direction and all the normal debate, that was always kept behind closed doors.

‘You know, in public, she was the most incredibly loyal ally.’

He added that Widdecombe’s move to the Brexit Party was a ‘very significant’ moment in ‘our political history’.

Away from politics, Widdecombe forged a television career with her memorable Strictly stint 16 years ago. She and Du Beke were eliminated ninth.

Then, in 2018, she placed second to drag queen Courtney Act on Celebrity Big Brother.

Her career as a media personality then involved fronting multiple documentaries and appearing on shows such as Have I Got News For You and The Chase, and hosting her own quiz show on Sky Atlantic, Cleverdicks.

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