BRITISH police arrested a man yesterday on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe, after the 78-year-old former government minister and Reform UK politician was found dead having ‘sustained serious injuries’.
Police said a 26-year-old white British man had been arrested in Newton Abbot, a town about 15km from Widdecombe’s home in rural southwest England.
Devon and Cornwall police assistant chief constable Matt Longman said there was no information to suggest the murder was related to terrorism or had a political motive.
Widdecombe was well known for her socially conservative views, first as a junior minister in Conservative prime minister John Major’s 1992-1997 government and latterly as an immigration and justice spokesperson for Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK.
Police said officers were called to Widdecombe’s home shortly after midday on Thursday, where she was found dead. Forensic examinations at the property were ongoing, they said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to “Ann’s dedication during her many years of public service”.
Two serving British members of parliament have been murdered in the last decade.
Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed by a Nazi-obsessed loner during the Brexit campaign in 2016. Conservative lawmaker David Amess was stabbed to death in 2021 by a man inspired by the militant group, Islamic State.
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