Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe found dead in Devon home; 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder

Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson, who is leading the inquiry, said the investigation was still at an early stage. "Unsere Mordermittlungen befinden sich noch in einem frühen Stadium, schreiten aber mit hohem Tempo voran", Rosson said, according to a police statement. She appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A long career in Conservative politics

Police said the 78-year-old had suffered severe injuries. Asked about a possible motive, Longman told reporters that the force could not comment at this stage. "Das ist ein extrem tragischer Vorfall", he said. "Unsere Gedanken sind bei den Angehörigen und Freunden", Longman added, expressing condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

According to reports, police are believed to be looking for a white man as the likely perpetrator, although no further description of the suspect has been released. The arrested man is also described in the police statement as a 26-year-old British national.

Reactions from Westminster

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described Widdecombe's death as "äußerst erschütternd". "Das Innenministerium ist bereit, bei den laufenden Ermittlungen jede erforderliche Unterstützung zu leisten", Mahmood wrote in a post on X. She said the Home Office stood ready to support the investigation in any way required.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer also expressed his dismay. According to the PA news agency, Starmer called the news "sehr schockierend" and said he was being kept updated on the case. The government is expected to be briefed further as the investigation develops.

Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP in the British House of Commons from 1987 to 2010. During the premiership of John Major she held several ministerial positions in the Conservative government. She was known in Westminster for her forthright style and her prominence in debates over Europe long before Brexit became the dominant political issue of the 2010s.

A familiar face on British television

After leaving the Commons, Widdecombe sat as a member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party, the party set up by Nigel Farage to argue for Britain's departure from the European Union. Her career in the European Parliament reflected her longstanding position as a committed supporter of Brexit.

Widdecombe was also a familiar face on British entertainment television. She appeared on the BBC dance show "Strictly Come Dancing" and on the reality format "Celebrity Big Brother". Her appearances on those programmes gave her a public profile that extended well beyond her political constituency.

Echoes of earlier killings of MPs

The death brings to mind two earlier killings of sitting British parliamentarians. The Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in 2016 during the Brexit referendum campaign by a right-wing extremist acting alone. The Conservative MP David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by a man inspired by the militant group Islamic State.

Both killings prompted reviews of security arrangements for members of parliament. Parliament has in place dedicated protection measures for MPs, including at their constituency surgeries and at their homes. It was not immediately clear on Friday evening whether Widdecombe, who had left the Commons in 2010, still had any active security detail.

What we know about the investigation

The Devon and Cornwall Police said the arrested man remained in custody on Friday evening. Officers were continuing to search the scene in Devon and to take witness statements. The force urged anyone with information to come forward.

Tributes to Widdecombe began to be posted online on Friday evening. Colleagues from across the political spectrum, including some who had clashed with her during the heated Brexit debates, acknowledged her long service in British public life. Several Conservative politicians said they were shocked by the news.

The investigation is being led by Devon and Cornwall Police's major crime team, with support from regional and national police structures. Detectives are expected to begin formal interviews with the suspect once the custody period allows, while forensic teams continue to examine the scene.

Further updates are expected over the coming days as the post-mortem examination is completed and a file is prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service. The Home Office has said it is monitoring the case.

The case is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents in southwest England that have drawn national attention to issues of violence and policing. Local councillors in Devon said on Friday night that they had been in contact with the family and that support was being offered to residents in the area around Widdecombe's home.