Devon and Cornwall Police have arrested a 26-year-old white British man on suspicion of murder following the death of former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe.

 

Police arrest man on suspicion of Ann Widdecombe murder

Devon and Cornwall Police have arrested a 26-year-old white British man on suspicion of murder following the death of former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe. The 78-year-old political veteran was found dead with serious injuries on Thursday morning, July 9, 2026, at her detached home in Haytor Vale, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

 

The Arrest and Investigation

• Suspect Location: Officers detained the 26-year-old male on Friday afternoon at a residential address in Newton Abbot, a town located a short drive from the victim's house.
• Not Treated as Terrorism: Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman confirmed that police consulted counter-terrorism units during initial inquiries but are not treating the incident as terrorism.
• Motive Open-Minded: Detectives have "no information" suggesting the crime was politically motivated, though they remain open-minded as the probe moves at a "significant pace".
• Active Forensic Scene: A strict police cordon remains in place around Widdecombe's property as specialist units perform forensic examinations and house-to-house inquiries.

Political and Public Reaction

The sudden escalation from what was initially believed to be a natural death to a major murder investigation has stunned the British political landscape.

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the investigation "shocking news" and urged political figures to "rise above any political differences" while assisting law enforcement.
• Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the circumstances as "extremely distressing" and requested the public to refrain from online speculation.
• Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch stated she was left "stunned" and "heartbroken" by the horrific event.
• Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage and other political colleagues have begun sharing tributes to her decades of public service, spanning her 23 years as an MP for Maidstone and her later roles as a Brexit Party MEP and Reform spokeswoman.

Live updates, full press statements, and ongoing forensic developments are being covered continuously on the BBC News Live Blog and The Guardian Politics Live Tracker. Devon and Cornwall Police continue to urge anyone with nearby CCTV or vehicle dashcam footage from the Haytor area to contact them immediately