British police have released a 26-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect in the killing of Ann Widdecombe, a former member of Parliament and reality television personality. The Devon and Cornwall Police announced Saturday that the man is no longer under investigation.
Detectives are continuing their inquiries into the incident, and the force stated that they remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding Widdecombe's death. Police have indicated that the killing is not believed to be an act of terror and there is no information to suggest it was politically motivated.
Widdecombe, 78, was discovered deceased on Thursday at her rural home in Haytor, located on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in southwest England. Concerns were raised after she failed to appear for a scheduled TV interview on Wednesday. The suspect who has now been released was arrested on Friday in a nearby town.
Widdecombe was a prominent figure in British politics for decades, known for her socially conservative views. She served as a lawmaker in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010 and held positions such as prisons minister in the Conservative government of Prime Minister John Major.
After leaving Parliament, Widdecombe gained wider public recognition through appearances on reality television shows like "Strictly Come Dancing" and "Celebrity Big Brother." She later became involved with the Brexit Party, serving briefly as a Member of the European Parliament before the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union. More recently, she joined the anti-immigration Reform UK party and frequently appeared in the media as a spokesperson.
Her death prompted reactions from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the news as "really shocking." Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, stated she struggled to find words and called it a "nasty, horrific attack." Reform UK leader Nigel Farage expressed his deep upset, suggesting that public life has become "even more dangerous."
The incident has renewed concerns about security for public figures in the UK. Parliament has seen tightened security measures in recent years following the murders of two sitting Members of Parliament: Labour's Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative's David Amess in 2021.