Ann Widdecombe, the 78-year-old former Conservative Party Member Of Parliament for Maidstone and later Member Of European Parliament, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon, on Thursday.
Devon & Cornwall Police believe she had sustained serious injuries in an attack around midday the previous day, approximately 24 hours earlier. She had been expected to appear on a daytime television programme but stopped responding to messages. Devon & Cornwall Police launched a murder investigation after ambulance staff were called to the property. 
On Saturday evening, a 28-year-old white British man was arrested on suspicion of murder at an address in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Police Officers from South Yorkshire Police and Counter Terrorism Policing carried out the arrest on behalf of Devon & Cornwall Police. Reports indicate the suspect drove approximately 300 miles to Ann Widdecombe's address, allegedly carrying a wooden pole or stick used in the attack. CCTV footage is reported to show the man leaving an address in the Rotherham area early on Wednesday morning and placing the item into a red vehicle. 
A 26-year-old white British man had been arrested on Friday in Newton Abbot, Devon, but was released the following day and is no longer part of the investigation.
Devon & Cornwall Police have stated there is nothing to suggest the incident was terrorism-related or politically motivated. Detectives remain open-minded about the motive and have confirmed they are not looking for anyone else. There is no indication of a wider threat to the public. A cordon is in place at the scene and a heightened police presence is expected in the area in the coming weeks. Devon & Cornwall Police have received more than 120 reports via their Major Incident Public Portal and has appealed for further information, including anonymously through CrimeStoppers. Police Officers have warned that speculation about the motive is unhelpful to the investigation, advising against those wishing to discuss on Social Media, and it may cause further distress to Ann Widdecombe's family and friends. 
In response to the death, Reform UK has arranged 24-hour protection for their Members Of Parliament, including Robert Jenrick and Lee Anderson.
Tributes have been paid by political figures across parties.
Anyone with information who can help police with this investigation should contact 101 or CrimeStoppers on 0800555111.
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 Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative Party minister and Reform UK spokesperson, was found dead at her bungalow in the Haytor Vale area of Dartmoor, Devon, on 9 July 2026. The 78-year-old had served as Member Of Parliament for Maidstone from 1987 to 2010, holding junior ministerial positions, and later contested The Conservative Party leadership. After leaving Westminster she was elected as a Member of European Parliament for the Brexit Party in 2019 and subsequently acted as Reform UK spokesperson on immigration and justice. She was also known for television appearances on programmes including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. Devon and Cornwall Police were called to her property, known locally as Widdecombe's Rest, at approximately 11:40 BST after South Western Ambulance Service attended. Police Officers believe she was attacked at the address around 12:30 BST the previous day, with her body remaining undiscovered for nearly 24 hours.  A murder investigation was opened. On 10 July a 26-year-old white British man was arrested at an address in the Newton Abbot area on suspicion of murder. He was released without charge on 11 July and is no longer part of the investigation. Devon and Cornwall Police have indicated that the death is not being treated as terrorism-related and that there is no indication it was politically motivated. Forensic examinations continue at the property under a police cordon, while officers carry out house-to-house inquiries in the Haytor area. The investigation is described as progressing at a significant pace.  As part of the inquiry, Devon and Cornwall Police are seeking a driver observed behaving suspiciously near Ann Widdecombe's home in the hours before the attack. Senior politicians from Reform UK have been provided with 24-hour protection in connection with the murder investigation. Members of the public who saw anything unusual in Haytor Vale or Haytor on 8 July, or who hold relevant CCTV, dashcam or doorbell camera footage from the vicinity, have been asked to submit it to the force. Information can be provided through the major incident public portal or anonymously via CrimeStoppers. |
AuthorAndy Gibson for InformingBritain.com ArchivesCategories
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