A 28-year-old man has been arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed. The suspect, a white British national, is in police custody after being taken into custody on the evening of July 11, roughly 270 miles from the crime scene in Haytor, Dartmoor.
Discovery of the Body and Timeline
Ms Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home at about 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, after sustaining serious injuries. Police later determined she was assaulted on Wednesday, July 8, at approximately 12:30 p.m. Her last public appearance was on Talk TV at 8 a.m. that day. At 12:19 p.m., she messaged a Channel 5 producer confirming receipt of a Zoom link for an appearance on the Matt Allwright show, writing: 'Received! Panic Over!' However, she did not respond to a follow-up message at 12:48 p.m. asking her to join the call, and failed to appear on the program. ITN contacted her agent that evening, and her body was discovered the next morning.
Arrest and Investigation
Devon and Cornwall Police stated: 'We can confirm that a 28-year-old man was arrested at an address in the South Yorkshire area this evening (July 11) on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe.' The arrest was supported by Counter Terrorism Policing North East and South Yorkshire Police. The force added: 'At this time, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism related incident and as a force we retain primacy of the investigation.' Ms Widdecombe's family has been informed of the arrest.
Background and Reactions
Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP for Maidstone from 1987, later becoming an MEP for the Brexit Party and a spokesperson for Reform UK. She also gained fame on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. Her driver of 10 years, Peter Horrell, laid flowers at her home, saying she 'never mentioned any fear' for her safety. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visited Haytor on July 11 to pay respects. Following her death, Reform UK MPs have been placed under round-the-clock security funded by the party, amid concerns of similar attacks. A previous suspect, a 26-year-old man, was arrested on July 10 but released and no longer considered a suspect.
