Police Arrest 26-Year Old Man On Suspicion Of Murder After Anne Widdecombe Found Dead
Police have launched a murder inquiry after Ann Widdecombe was found dead on Thursday (Alamy)
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A 26-year old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday after politician Anne Widdecombe was found dead in her home.
In a press conference, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said police were called to Widdecombe's home in rural Devon on Thursday morning, where she was found deceased with "serious injuries".
The murder inquiry is still in its early stages, but the incident is currently not being treated as terrorism, Longman said.
Widdecombe was a Conservative MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and was a minister in the Conservative government of John Major. Later in life, she served as a Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament, before joining Reform UK.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the news of the circumstances surrounding Widdecombe's death was "really shocking" and his thoughts "will be with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this awful time for them."
Starmer said he had spoken to the chief constable and said it is "really important that this is a moment where we rise above any political differences, the political divide, and say the single most important thing at the moment is that all of us and the public help the police identify the individual suspected and make sure he's arrested as quickly as possible",
A spokesperson for Andy Burnham, who is expected to replace Starmer as PM this month, 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."
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she was "stunned" by the news.
"To be honest, I’ve really struggled to find the words," she said.
"Ann Widdecombe was a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind. She was 78 years old. She was an elderly woman. I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrific to an elderly person.
"It was a nasty, horrific attack. My heart is breaking for her family."
