Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former Conservative MP, was found dead with a head wound at her home in Dartmoor on Thursday, prompting a murder investigation. Police arrested a 26-year-old man a few miles away in Newton Abbot hours after the investigation was made public.
Authorities were alerted after Widdecombe, who lived alone since retiring in 2010, failed to appear for a scheduled television appearance and could not be reached by her family. A gardener discovered her body in the kitchen of her bungalow. Her family expressed shock and grief, fearing she may have experienced "abject terror" during the incident.
Devon and Cornwall Police stated that the case is not being treated as terrorism and there is no current indication of a politically motivated crime. Detectives are working to determine the motive and whether there was any prior contact between the suspect and Widdecombe.
Widdecombe, a prominent figure in British politics known for her strong social conservative views, served as a Conservative MP for Maidstone from 1987 to 2010. She held several ministerial positions and was a vocal opponent of abortion and gay rights. In her public life, she was known for her no-nonsense stance, even downplaying death threats during her political career.
She had appeared on Talk TV on Wednesday morning and was scheduled to be on Jeremy Vine's Channel 5 show later that day. Widdecombe, who had surveillance cameras around her property, had previously joked about her security, stating she didn't rely on extensive measures but would monitor her cameras.
Politicians from across the spectrum paid tribute to Widdecombe. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described her murder as a "terrible reflection on modern Britain." Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, urged unity, calling the news "shocking." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed disbelief at the "horrific attack on an elderly person," while former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for swift answers from the police.
Widdecombe's management team confirmed their devastation at the news following a "traumatic and upsetting 24 hours."