Man, 28, is arrested in South Yorkshire over ‘murder’ of Ann Widdecombe at her home
A second man has been arrested by police investigating the suspected murder of Ann Widdecombe at her home in Dartmoor.
The former MP and MEP was found dead by her gardener at her cottage in Haytor, Devon on Thursday morning.
Officers detained a 28-year-old man on suspicion of murder in South Yorkshire – some 270 miles from Ms Widdecombe’s home – on Saturday evening. He remains in custody.
Detectives believe Ms Widdecombe was attacked at around 12.30pm on Wednesday, just half an hour before she was due to appear on TV.
The body of the 78-year-old Conservative-turned-Reform politician was found in a pool of blood in her kitchen a little less than 24 hours later. An ambulance crew alerted police at 11.40am.
A statement released by Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘We can confirm that a 28-year-old man was arrested at an address in the South Yorkshire area this evening (July 11) on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
‘The suspect, who is a white British national, is now in police custody.
‘Ms Widdecombe’s family have been informed of this development.
Ann Widdecombe was found dead in the kitchen of her remote bungalow in Dartmoor yesterday
Police remain at the scene outside Ms Widdecombe’s home in Dartmoor on Saturday
Police carry out fingertip searches near Ms Widdecombe’s home on Saturday
‘We were supported by Counter Terrorism Policing North East and South Yorkshire Police who carried out the arrest on behalf of Devon & Cornwall Police.
‘At this time, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism related incident and as a force we retain primacy of the investigation.’
A 26-year-old white British man who was arrested on Friday was released from custody on Saturday morning and is no longer part of the probe.
Detectives said earlier the case is ‘moving at significant pace’ and ‘our priority remains identifying those responsible’ for Ms Widdecombe’s death.
They are not expected to release any more information about the newly arrested suspect tonight and will hold a press briefing on Sunday morning.
It comes after new details emerged about Ms Widdecombe’s final hours, as it was revealed the alarm was raised after she failed to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show at 1pm on Wednesday.
She was last seen in an interview on Talk TV at around 8am the same day.
A researcher on the Channel 5 show had spoken to Ms Widdecombe on the phone earlier in the afternoon to set up the interview.
After the call, the researcher exchanged messages with Ms Widdecombe, with her last message received at 12.19pm.
The researcher then messaged again at 12.48pm requesting that Ms Widdecombe join the Zoom link in preparation for the remote interview, but she did not reply.
Ms Widdecombe appeared on Talk TV on Wednesday just days before her death
A police officer wearing a face mask and gloves investigates some bushes near Ms Widdecombe’s home
Mr Farage claimed that Ms Widdecombe – whom he described as a friend – was killed in a ‘premeditated’ manner, and ruled out her murder being a burglary gone wrong
Subsequent voice calls and messages asking if everything was alright went unanswered. Concerns were raised by the show’s research team about the uncharacteristic lack of response from Ms Widdecombe, who was a regular on the show.
They contacted her agent later on Wednesday and followed up again on Thursday.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman provided an update on the force’s investigation earlier today, saying: ‘Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.
‘Detectives continue to carry out numerous inquiries as part of the ongoing investigation and we remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.’
He said the investigation was ‘moving at a significant pace’, adding: ‘We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened.
‘I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.
‘We will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime, I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media.
‘This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Ms Widdecombe. The family have also asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with what has happened.
Officers have been combing for any potential evidence today
Police officers have been carrying out a fingertip search near her property
‘We have set up a major incident public portal for information, images or footage to be submitted to us. This can be found on our website.
‘Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.’
Police added there was no evidence at that stage to suggest the killing was politically motivated.
Despite his call not to speculate, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage appeared to do just that when he arrived outside Ms Widdecombe’s home on Saturday and laid a floral tribute.
He claimed the attack on the Reform justice spokesperson was ‘premeditated’ and claimed a car arrived at her house minutes before police believe she was attacked – details not confirmed by detectives.
Mr Farage said on Saturday: ‘One theory doing the rounds is that it was a burglary gone wrong. But a car went onto the drive at approximately 12.25pm on Wednesday.
‘If you were a burglar, would you literally drive your car onto someone’s drive? From what I can see of it, from what I make out, this was premeditated murder.
‘Whether it was politically motivated, whether it was someone with a grudge. I don’t think it pays at this time to speculate.’
A highly placed source told the MoS that Ms Widdecombe’s family ‘don’t want her death hijacked for political purposes’, adding that they ‘are very uneasy’ about Mr Farage being at the scene.
Reform has said it is giving 24-hour security to all of its MPs over fears of possible copycat attacks.
