British police have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murdering former government minister and Reform UK politician Ann Widdecombe after she was found dead with what authorities described as “sustained serious injuries.”
The suspect, identified as a white British man, was taken into custody on Friday in Newton Abbot, located about nine miles (15 kilometres) from Widdecombe’s home in southwest England.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall Police said investigators had found no evidence indicating the killing was linked to terrorism or politically motivated.
Widdecombe, 78, built a reputation for her socially conservative beliefs during a political career that included serving as a junior minister under former Conservative Prime Minister John Major between 1992 and 1997. She later became Reform UK’s immigration and justice spokesperson under Nigel Farage.
Police said officers responded to a call at her residence shortly after midday on Thursday, where she was pronounced dead. Forensic specialists are continuing examinations at the property as investigations progress.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to the late politician, praising “Ann’s dedication during her many years of public service.”
Her death comes after two serving British lawmakers were killed in separate attacks over the past decade. Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed by a Nazi-obsessed attacker during the 2016 Brexit campaign, while Conservative MP David Amess was fatally stabbed in 2021 by a man inspired by the militant group, Islamic State.
Throughout her career, Widdecombe remained a prominent advocate of socially conservative policies. She opposed abortion and resisted efforts to equalise the age of consent for homosexual and heterosexual relationships.
She also defended the policy of shackling pregnant prisoners during childbirth to prevent escapes.
Although she never married and publicly described herself as a virgin, the Catholic convert consistently promoted traditional family values.
Following her departure from Parliament, Widdecombe appeared on the television dance competition “Strictly Come Dancing” in 2010. Despite receiving criticism from judges for her dancing, she won strong support from viewers.
She later joined Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party and represented the party in the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020. Before her death, she served as Reform UK’s immigration spokesperson. Reform UK, the renamed Brexit Party, currently leads in several opinion polls.
After news of her death emerged, politicians from both the Conservative Party and Reform UK paid tribute before police disclosed details of the murder investigation.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote on X that Widdecombe was “a heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker who could move Tory audiences to such ecstasy that she was a very hard act to follow.”
