Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor, on th edge of Dartmoor, Devon, at around 11:40am on Thursday. Police believe she was attacked at around 12:30pm on Wednesday, nearly 24 hours before her body was discovered with “serious injuries”.
A 28-year-old white British man was arrested shortly after 9pm on Saturday at an address in Rotherham, South Yorkshire on suspicion of murder. Police have said that the arrest was carried out by officers from counter-terrorism, North East and South Yorkshire police on behalf of Devon and Cornwall police. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the killing of 78-year-old Ann Widdecombe.
There is currently no information to suggest Widdecombe’s murder was terrorism related or politically motivated, and police have asked people not to speculate online about the motivation behind the murder. Officers have said they will remain to keep an open mind throughout the continuing investigation.
Who Was Ann Widdecombe?
Ann Widdecombe was a British politician, author and television personality who was a prominent figure in public life for more than three decades. She was born in Bath on October 5th 1947.
Ann was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidstone in 1987, later representing the constituency of Maidstone and The Weald until she stood down from the House of Commons in 2010.
During her parliamentary career, Widdecombe held several ministerial roles, including positions at the Home Office and the Department for Employment. After the Conservative Party moved into opposition, she served in several senior shadow cabinet roles, becoming one of the party’s most recognisable members. She was known for her distinctive speaking style, frequent debates and her discussions on a wide range of political and social issues.
Following her departure from Westminster, Widdecombe remained active in public life through writing, broadcasting and television. In 2010, she appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, introducing her to a wider audience beyond politics. She also wrote books and newspaper columns, and continued to comment on current affairs.
In 2019, Widdecombe returned to elected office as a Member of the European Parliament, representing the Brexit Party until the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2020. Throughout her career, she remained a well-known and influential figure in British public life, recognised for her long service in politics and her contributions to national debate.
She later became a member of Reform UK and served as a Reform UK spokesperson until her death.