Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has been named as the man arrested on suspicion of the murder of former MP Ann Widdecombe. The 78-year-old former politician was found dead in her bungalow in Haytor, Dartmoor, on July 8, 2026, just 30 minutes before she was scheduled to appear via video call on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show.
Timeline of Events
Ms Widdecombe had last messaged a producer at 12.19pm but failed to respond to a text at 12.48pm. Devon and Cornwall Police believe she was killed at approximately 12.30pm in her home, where she lived alone with her cat. Her body remained undiscovered for almost 24 hours before being found in the kitchen at 11.40am the next day.
Kerry was originally detained on suspicion of murder before being re-arrested two days later on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. He has not yet been charged, as police requested further time to question him.
Political and Public Reactions
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood paid tribute, stating: "Ann Widdecombe dedicated her life to politics and public service. For nearly 40 years, she was a fixture of our political life. She brought conviction to our politics, grounded in her profound Catholic faith. She was forthright in her opinions and argued courageously for the things she believed in. But, perhaps most of all, she brought an inimitable style to politics. She was forthright and fearless." Mahmood added: "She was one of those rare politicians who was bigger than politics."
House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also paid tribute, urging MPs not to say anything that might prejudice a future trial. He said: "Ann was a formidable politician, a prominent figure in public life. She was a member of Parliament for Maidstone for 23 years, holding a number of ministerial posts in the 1990s. Ann was fierce and enjoyed robust political debate. Whether you agreed with her or not, she was principled, spoke her mind and was true to her beliefs, informed by a Christian faith."
Sir Lindsay recalled personal memories: "On a personal level, Casa Pizza in Lambeth is where I spent a lot of time in the evening sharing a pizza with the one and only Ann Widdecombe. She was a friend in many ways. Politically we may not agree, but she was without doubt a courageous, principled politician and all our thoughts are with her family and her friends."
Investigation and Background
Detectives confirmed Ms Widdecombe's death was a "targeted attack." Counter Terrorism Policing took over the investigation after Devon and Cornwall Police initially said there was "nothing to suggest" the killing had been politically motivated.
Suspect Kerry is understood to have been unemployed since working as an office administrator up until two years ago. Ms Widdecombe was first elected as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, later served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and a spokeswoman for Reform UK. She also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had spoken to his likely successor Andy Burnham, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, and Reform UK's Nigel Farage to "urge everybody to come together at a moment like this."
