Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has confirmed that the 28-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe was not known to the Government's anti-extremism Prevent programme. The suspect, a white British man, was initially arrested on Saturday and has since been rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Police may hold him for up to 14 days under terrorism legislation.
Investigation led by counter-terrorism police
Counter-terrorism police have taken over the investigation from Devon and Cornwall Police after new evidence emerged. Laurence Taylor, head of UK counter-terrorism policing, stated: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation. We are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.”
Miss Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor at about 11.40am on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries. Police believe she was attacked on Wednesday at approximately 12.30pm, shortly before she was due to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show. ITV News reported that WhatsApp messages show she stopped responding to a TV producer around that time.
Home Secretary pays tribute
Addressing the House of Commons on Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described Miss Widdecombe as “one of those rare politicians who was bigger than politics” and a “unique figure in our politics, a distinctive and devoted public servant, the likes of whom we will rarely, if ever, see again.” She added: “Ann had a profound faith. Her journey in this life has ended too soon.”
Ms Mahmood also said she would look at security advice for former MPs and members of parties without MPs, and that Nigel Farage has been offered a meeting with the head of the parliamentary security body amid concerns for Reform UK MPs' safety.
Suspect's arrest and evidence
Footage shared with media outlets including the Sun and Sky News showed a man with no top on being arrested and led from a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Saturday. Investigators will examine the suspect's devices for terrorist material and consider mental health issues. In the year to March 2025, more than half of Prevent referrals were for no fixed ideology.
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice and board member Gawain Towler criticised the police's initial statement that the murder was not being treated as terrorism. Towler said: “In a time when trust in the police is at an all time low, this just plays into that they are trying to massage public opinion rather than do the job of investigating a brutal murder. We saw it with Henry Nowak, we saw it with Southport.” Tice urged police to keep an open mind on motivation.
Miss Widdecombe was first elected as a Conservative MP for Maidstone in 1987, later served as a Brexit Party MEP, and became a spokeswoman for Reform UK. She also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
