Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed they are not seeking any other suspects in the murder investigation of former MP Ann Widdecombe, following the arrest of a 28-year-old white British man in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Saturday evening.
The 78-year-old former Conservative MP and Brexit Party MEP was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday, July 9. Police launched a murder investigation the following day.
Arrest and Investigation Update
The arrest was carried out shortly after 9pm by officers from Counter Terrorism Police North East and South Yorkshire Police, acting on behalf of Devon and Cornwall Police. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman told reporters on Sunday that there is no evidence to suggest the attack was politically motivated or terrorism-related.
Longman stated: "We are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death." He added that officers remain "open-minded" about a potential motive and that there is no threat to the wider public.
Previous Arrest Released
On Friday, a 26-year-old white British male was arrested at an address in Newton Abbot on suspicion of murder. He was released from custody on Saturday morning and is no longer part of the investigation.
Timeline of Events
Miss Widdecombe made her final public appearance on TalkTV on Wednesday, July 8, discussing her party leader Nigel Farage. Later that day, she was scheduled to appear on Matt Allwright's show on Channel 5. Her last message was received at 12:19pm by a researcher who was trying to contact her for a Zoom interview. She did not respond to subsequent messages.
Police believe Miss Widdecombe was attacked at approximately 12:30pm on Wednesday.
Appeal for Calm
Longman urged the public not to engage with online speculation: "We are aware of online and public speculation, particularly with regards to motive. Again, I urge people not to share or engage with that speculation – it's unhelpful, it doesn't aid our investigation, and particularly, it's distressing to the family and friends of Miss Widdecombe."
Background
Ann Widdecombe was first elected as a Conservative MP for Kent in 1987. She later served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and as a spokeswoman for Reform UK. Beyond politics, she gained fame as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
