UK police arrest murder suspect in Ann Widdecombe's death

Authorities arrested a man on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe, police in southwest England announced on Friday , a few hours after news of the once-prominent politician being found dead emerged.

A Conservative government minister in the 1990s known for her sharp tongue, Widdecombe became an ally of right-wing populist Nigel Farage later in her political career.

What did police say about the case?

Police said nothing initially about a potential motive or backdrop in the nascent case.

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

But soon after their initial announcement, police said that a white male, a British citizen aged 26, had been arrested and remained in custody.

Matt Longman from Devon and Cornwall Police said that, at least based on preliminary inquiries, the incident "is not being treated as terrorism" or as being politically motivated.

Police said they ​were called to ‌Widdecombe's address in Dartmoor in Devon around midday on Thursday where she was ​found to ⁠have died having "sustained serious injuries."

Rosson appealed to anyone with information to come forward, "however insignificant" it might seem.

"We 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 which could assist with our investigation," Rosson said.

How did Prime Minister Keir Starmer respond?

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed condolences to Widdecombe's family and friends amid the "really shocking news," hailing Widdecombe as a "distinguished" politician.

"I think this is really important that this a moment where we rise above any political differences, the political divide," Starmer said soon before news of the suspect's arrest, saying the priority was to identify and secure a man who was "clearly dangerous."

Starmer said he had spoken with the speaker of parliament, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Reform UK's Nigel Farage, and his heir apparent Andy Burnham "to urge everybody to come together at a moment like this and to urge everybody to help the police."

Who was Ann Widdecombe?

Widdecombe, 78, was a former government minister and Conservative member of parliament from 1987 until 2010, who held ministerial positions in John Major's UK government in the 1990s.

Widdecombe served as prisons minister after junior posts in the Department of Employment and working on social security.

After Labour came to power in 1997, she was a senior shadow minister in opposition, first as Shadow Health Secretary and then as Shadow Home Secretary. She sought the party leadership in 2001 but couldn't drum up enough support among fellow MPs to launch a bid.

She retired from politics at the 2010 general election, but returned to the frontlines amid the 2016 Brexit referendum.

A prominent supporter of Brexit, she became closely tied to Nigel Farage in later life, first joining the now-defunct Brexit Party and later moving to Farage's latest party, Reform UK. She was serving as the right-wing populist party's immigration and justice spokeswoman.

Widdecombe also featured on reality TV as a contestant on the "Strictly Come Dancing" show in its heyday in 2010, and later in the 21st series of "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2018, finishing as runner-up.

A later life convert to Catholicism — who described the Anglican Church decision to ordain women priests as "the last straw" — Widdecombe was known for her traditional views on various issues like law and order, immigration, climate change and sexuality.

Edited by: Natalie Muller

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