Police investigating the death of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe have arrested a 26-year-old British man on suspicion of murder after the veteran politician was found dead with serious injuries inside her remote Devon home.
The 78-year-old, who spent decades in Parliament before later joining the Brexit Party and Reform UK, was discovered at her property in Haytor, Dartmoor, prompting Devon and Cornwall Police to launch a major murder investigation.
Officers stressed that they remain “open-minded” about every possible line of inquiry and said there is currently no evidence suggesting the killing was politically motivated.
As detectives continue piecing together the timeline, neighbours have reportedly spoken of a mysterious hiker seen near Widdecombe’s isolated home during the night, adding another layer of intrigue to the investigation.
Ann Widdecombe’s agent confirmed her death in a statement, saying: “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG. We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.”
Widdecombe had lived alone in Haytor since leaving Parliament in 2010 after serving as MP for Maidstone and The Weald. Following her departure from Westminster, she embraced a quieter life on Dartmoor, a place she often described with affection.
She previously explained that she never intended to spend her retirement in London, instead choosing a home surrounded by nature.
Speaking about her decision, she once said she wanted somewhere with “views and birds in the garden.” She also praised Dartmoor’s dramatic landscape, saying its “bleakness” was one of the reasons she loved living there.
Widdecombe frequently enjoyed long walks across the moors, explaining that she could sometimes spend an entire day without seeing another person, calling the experience “very restful.”
The investigation has also highlighted comments Widdecombe made last year about the dangers faced by politicians.
She revealed that throughout her political career she had received death threats but rarely informed police, despite staff encouraging her to do so.
Recalling her response, she said she would simply tell her team to “put it in the bin.”
Despite those threats, Widdecombe maintained that elected representatives should remain accessible to the public rather than becoming isolated behind heavy security.
She believed it was “crucial that MPs and their constituents intermingle freely” and argued politicians should never become disconnected from the communities they serve.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said detectives are continuing to investigate every possible lead.
He said officers remain “open-minded” and confirmed there is currently nothing to indicate the attack was linked to Widdecombe’s political career.
The investigation has also revealed that Widdecombe had been expected to appear as a guest on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright Show on Wednesday afternoon.
According to reports, she had exchanged messages with a programme researcher beforehand but stopped responding before she was due to join a Zoom interview from her home.
Subsequent phone calls and text messages went unanswered, prompting the production team to contact her agent on both Wednesday and Thursday.
Channel 5 presenter Dan Walker later issued a statement clarifying the sequence of events.
He wrote: “Really sad news about Ann Widdecombe. Horrible to think about what she went through.”
He continued: “To clarify something we said on the programme tonight…
“Ann was due to appear on 5 Daytime on Wednesday afternoon but stopped responding to messages and didn’t turn up for the show.
“The team contacted her agent to ask them to check in on her.
“This information has been passed to police as it’s part of the investigation.”
As forensic examinations continue at Widdecombe’s secluded property, detectives are appealing for anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward.
