A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of former Conservative MP and government minister Ann Widdecombe. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the arrest was made at an address in Newton Abbot, Devon, on Friday.

The body of the 78-year-old politician, who also served as a Reform UK spokesperson, was discovered by police with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, a rural village on Dartmoor, at approximately 11:40 BST on Thursday. The incident is not being treated as terrorism, according to Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, who stated that counter-terror policing was involved in initial inquiries but there is currently no information to suggest a politically motivated crime.

Police are in the early stages of their investigation and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. Assistant Chief Constable Longman indicated it was too early to determine if the suspect was known to Ms. Widdecombe. The former MP's next of kin have been informed and are receiving support from trained officers.

Prime Minister and other political leaders expressed their shock at the news. Sir Keir Starmer described the development as "really shocking," while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was "stunned to hear this awful news." Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stated he was "deeply, deeply upset by the nature of her death."

Ann Widdecombe's political career spanned several decades. She represented Maidstone in Kent as an MP for 23 years and served as a Home Office and employment minister under Prime Minister John Major from 1994 to 1997. After leaving Parliament, she pursued a career in entertainment, appearing on "Strictly Come Dancing" in 2010 and "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2018.

Following her time in Parliament, Ms. Widdecombe became a prominent figure in the Brexit movement. She served as an MEP for the Brexit Party, representing South West England in the European Parliament between 2019 and 2020. In 2023, she joined Reform UK, the party then led by Nigel Farage, and took on the role of immigration and justice spokesperson.

Ms. Widdecombe's body was found at her detached home, located in a rural setting surrounded by fields and a small number of residences. Police were initially called to the scene by the ambulance service. Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson described the incident as "extremely tragic" and conveyed condolences to Ms. Widdecombe's family and friends.

A cordon remains in place at the property while forensic investigations are conducted. Officers are conducting door-to-door inquiries in the area and reviewing CCTV footage. Police are particularly interested in any information regarding suspicious activity in the vicinity of Haytor Vale and Haytor, or any relevant CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage that could aid their investigation. A statement from Ms. Widdecombe's agent announcing her death on Friday morning did not specify the circumstances.