Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) has taken responsibility for the investigation into the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe after a suspect was arrested on Saturday evening.
Police said the arrest, made at about 21:00 on Saturday, followed a manhunt and comes after new information emerged during what they described as a dynamic and complex inquiry. CTPSE said the arrest builds on work by Devon and Cornwall Police and that its priority is to progress the investigation quickly using all available capabilities. Officers urged anyone with information to come forward.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she would update the House of Commons on the investigation on Monday afternoon and offered condolences to Widdecombe’s family and friends.
Media reports have circulated CCTV footage that appears to show a man getting into a red car in Rotherham in the early hours of Wednesday, hours before Widdecombe is believed to have been attacked at her home in Devon. The footage, time-stamped at 07:51, shows a man in a white shirt and shorts entering the vehicle; a long object seemed to be protruding from his shorts pocket, according to the reports.
Earlier, Devon and Cornwall Police said there was nothing to suggest the killing was politically motivated. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said officers remained open-minded on motive and did not believe there was any threat to the wider public. He said investigators estimate Widdecombe was attacked at about 12:30 on Wednesday and that the force had received more than 120 pieces of information following a public appeal. A heightened police presence will remain in the local area in the coming weeks, he added.
Ann Widdecombe was the Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years and served as a minister in John Major’s government between 1994 and 1997. After leaving the House of Commons in 2010 she appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and later finished as runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother. In 2019 she joined the Brexit Party and served as an MEP for South West England from 2019 to 2020.
Around 40 people, including senior figures from Reform, gathered in Haytor Vale on Sunday to pay tribute. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said he had spoken to Widdecombe the previous Monday and was shocked by the news of her death, calling her an influential and towering figure. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described her passing as a significant loss and urged people to rise above political differences. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called her “very fun and feisty” and said her heart went out to Widdecombe’s family. Reform leader Nigel Farage, who visited Dartmoor to pay his respects, described her as a remarkable individual and a staunch defender of free speech.
The investigation is ongoing and police have asked anyone with relevant information to contact authorities.