Ann Widdecombe, former British member of Parliament, was slain in her home Thursday. Police arrested a man, 26, in the case. File Photo by Vickie Flores/EPA
British police announced Friday that they arrested a man in the slaying of former Member of Parliament Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead in her home Thursday.
Devon and Cornwall Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said at a press briefing a 26-year-old man was arrested on Friday afternoon at a home in Newton Abbot, England, on suspicion of the murder of Widdecombe, 78, who was killed in Dartmoor, Devon. The two areas are about 15 miles apart. The suspect is a British national, police said, and the slaying was not believed to be an act of terrorism.
Longman said there isn’t evidence that the killing was politically motivated, though it is early in the investigation.
“Too early for me to comment further on that at this time,” Longman said.
Widdecombe was a Conservative member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald. She joined the Brexit party in 2019 and served as a member of the European Parliament, representing South West England, between 2019 and 2020. She was also a member of Brexit’s successor, Reform UK.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it’s important to “rise above any political differences” and focus on justice.
“This is really shocking news, and my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this awful time for them.
“Ann was a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements, and it’s a huge, huge loss.”
Labour MP and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner called the news “deeply disturbing and distressing” and said it’s “right that we pay tribute across the divides to Ann’s many years of public service.”
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Mel Stride called Widdecombe a “remarkable lady.”
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said he was “deeply shocked to learn of the circumstances of Widdecombe’s death. “The police investigation must now take its course, and I hope anybody with relevant information will contact them,” he said in a statement.
A representative for Makerfield MP Andy Burnham said, “Andy’s deepest condolences and thoughts are with Ann’s family today, in incredibly distressing circumstances.
“Ann gave a lifetime of public service, and it’s absolutely right that the police put all their resources into investigating this as swiftly as possible,” Burnham’s representative said.
“I’m really shocked and distressed at the news about Ann Widdecombe,” Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey posted on X. “She was a woman of deep faith who devoted her life to public service. The idea that she could have been murdered is truly horrifying.”
