Police are to issue urgent safety advice to every MP following the death of former Conservative minister and Reform UK member Ann Widdecombe at her Dartmoor home. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the move in a statement to the House of Commons, adding that a 28-year-old white British man is in custody but was not known to the Prevent counter-extremism programme.
Home Secretary Updates Commons on Widdecombe Death
Ms Mahmood told MPs: “The police now have a suspect in custody, a 28-year-old white British man. And I can confirm to the House that this man was not known to Prevent. The police have cautioned against speculating about the case – that is the right thing to do for Ann’s family and friends.”
The Home Secretary also said that the police intend to issue guidance to MPs soon and will be contacting parliamentarians in their constituencies to offer support. This is in addition to an ongoing Home Office review commissioned after the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, which focuses on ensuring MPs are not in danger in their constituencies.
Speaker Pays Tribute to Widdecombe
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle paid tribute to Ms Widdecombe, describing her as both “fierce” and “principled.” He said: “Ann was a formidable politician, a prominent figure in public life. 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 which were informed by her Christian faith.”
Ongoing Security Measures for MPs
Ms Mahmood emphasised that security measures are kept under constant review to ensure MPs can carry out their duties safely. The Home Office and police work closely with the Parliamentary security department to provide practical advice and support directly to MPs. She added: “We must always be vigilant to changing threats, and respond.”
