A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative minister, Brexit Party MEP, and Reform UK spokeswoman, who was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries. She was 78.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the white British suspect was arrested at an address in Newton Abbot on Friday. The case is not being treated as terrorism, and Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said there was no information at this time to suggest a politically motivated crime.
What Police Have Said
Longman described the case as an extremely tragic incident and said officers remain open-minded about the motive, adding it was too early to say whether the suspect was known to Miss Widdecombe. He did not discuss a possible motive but confirmed the suspect remains in custody as the investigation continues.
A manhunt had been launched for a white male believed responsible before Friday’s arrest. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the circumstances of the death are extremely distressing.
The Timeline: Her Final Hours
Widdecombe’s last media appearance came on Wednesday, when she spoke live on TalkTV via remote video link. She was also due to appear by video call on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show at 1 pm the same day, but never joined.
A researcher on the programme had spoken to her by phone that afternoon, with her final message received at 12:19 pm. When the researcher messaged again at 12:48 pm, asking her to join the Zoom link, there was no reply, and subsequent calls and messages went unanswered. Concerned by the uncharacteristic silence from a show regular, the research team contacted her agent later on Wednesday and followed up on Thursday, the day she was found dead.
Tributes From Across the Political Divide
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the news really shocking and Widdecombe a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements, describing her death as a huge loss. He said he had spoken with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage to urge everybody to come together, stressing that lawmakers’ security was of the utmost importance.
Badenoch said she had struggled to find words, calling Widdecombe a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind and describing the attack on a 78-year-old as nasty and horrific. Farage said he was deeply, deeply upset by the nature of her death, while Boris Johnson remembered her as a heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker who could move Tory audiences to ecstasy.
Her management company, Cloud9, said her life was driven by strong Christian values and public service, recalling her own words: “We get one go this side of eternity, one go. Life is not a dress rehearsal.”
A Life in Politics and Public Eye
Born on October 4, 1947, in Bath, Widdecombe studied Latin at Birmingham University and PPE at Oxford, where she served as secretary and treasurer of the Oxford Union. After years of persistence, she was elected Conservative MP for Maidstone in 1987, holding the Kent seat for 23 years until 2010, and served as prisons minister in the 1990s.
Famously outspoken and socially conservative, she left the Church of England over the ordination of women and was received into the Catholic Church in 1993. She returned to elected office in 2019 as a Brexit Party MEP and remained an active Reform UK campaigner and spokeswoman until her death.
Beyond Westminster, she became a household name through Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother, and 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still offering forthright views on the day’s hot topics.
The Wider Context
The killing has renewed attention on the safety of public figures in Britain, where security for politicians was tightened after the murders of two serving MPs in the past decade. Starmer declined to speculate on the motive but urged the public to rise above political differences as the investigation proceeds.
🚨 Ann Widdecombe’s last interview from Wednesday’s breakfast show.
“There IS an establishment”
She stated she has no faith in parliamentary processes to come to fair conclusions and, as such understands why Nigel Farage has resigned as an MP.@mrmarkdolan pic.twitter.com/V8QFp7z8xx
— Talk (@TalkTV) July 10, 2026
FAQ
How did Ann Widdecombe die?
She was found dead at her Haytor Vale home on Dartmoor on Thursday, July 9, 2026, having sustained serious injuries. Police launched a murder investigation.
Has anyone been arrested?
Yes. A 26-year-old white British man was arrested on suspicion of murder at an address in Newton Abbot on Friday and remains in custody.
Was the killing politically motivated?
Police say the case is not being treated as terrorism, and there is no information at this time suggesting political motivation, though they remain open-minded.
How old was Ann Widdecombe?
She was 78, born October 4, 1947, in Bath, Somerset.
What was Ann Widdecombe known for?
Twenty-three years as a Conservative MP for Maidstone, serving as prisons minister, later becoming a Brexit Party MEP, Reform UK spokeswoman, and a reality TV favourite on Strictly and Celebrity Big Brother.
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Last Updated on July 10, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
