Police believe Ann Widdecombe was attacked and killed at her home 24 hours before her body was found as a murder manhunt continues.
The ex-MEP and reality TV contestant was found dead by her carer at her home on Thursday morning. It is understood she was found covered in blood after sustaining a critical head wound.
Police believe Widdecombe, 78, was attacked around 12.30pm on Wednesday at her home in Haytor Vale, Devon, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, where she lived alone.
Devon and Cornwall Police said she suffered “serious injuries” and that the suspect is a white male as detectives from the Force Major Crime Investigation Team launched a murder investigation.
On Saturday, the force confirmed the man’s release from custody, following his arrest on Friday, and said he was no longer part of the investigation which was “moving at a significant pace”.
The police are believed to be investigating whether Widdecombe interrupted a burglary at her home but do not believe there is a wider risk to the public.
She had been due to appear on a Channel 5 show on Wednesday afternoon, but the programme’s researchers contacted her agent after she stopped responding to messages, ITV News reports.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said the murder investigation is not being treated as terrorism and there is no information to suggest a politically motivated crime.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us,” he said.
Police outside the house of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor in Dartmoor. (Photo: Matt Keeble/PA Wire)“I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media,” Longman said.
Police officers were called to the ex-MPs home by the ambulance service at around 11.40am on Thursday.
A police presence will remain high in the area over the weekend, with officers carrying out house-to-house and CCTV inquiries.
The Reverend John Bennett, a vicar at St. Michael’s Church in Ilsington, about a mile from Ms Widdecombe’s home, said her death was “immensely shocking”
He told The i Paper: “I didn’t know her well, but I met her on a number of occasions.
“She was a lady that was involved in the community. For example, she used to come along to the summer show, the Ilsington summer show, and be part of that.
“She was a woman, I believe, of great integrity, great compassion, and also a woman of deep Christian faith. And in these tragic circumstances, that is what we hold on to.”
A man arrested as part of the police murder investigation has been released. (Photo: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)He last saw her about a couple of weeks ago in the village shop.
“She didn’t come to our church because she was Roman Catholic. But I’ve set up a little memorial place in the side chapel in the church,” he said.
“There’s a photograph of her, a book of condolence, and there’s an option of lighting a candle if people want to.
“It’s such a small, close knit community, it’s shocking, obviously, because of Ann and who she is, but I suppose it feels a bit threatening to everyone as well that this could be done in such a beautiful, small community.”
A Mass is being held at Buckfast Abbey where Widdecombe, who converted to Catholicism in 1993, attended Sunday services.
The owner of Pixieland, a shop in Dartmoor where the politician bought her garden gnomes, said her death was “such distressing news”.
“She was always such a lovely lady, very friendly, always laughing,” she said.
“She used to come in maybe once or twice a year with family when they were visiting her.
“She loved her garden, she loved her pond. You can’t get your head round it. But it’s very sad.”
Widdecombe failed to appear on TV show
Widdecombe was due to be a guest on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show on Wednesday afternoon, which runs from 12.50pm until 2pm, but did not appear,.
She was due to record a video call from her home, ITV News reports.
A researcher exchanged messages with Widdecombe, with her last message received at 12:19pm.
At 12:48pm, the researcher messaged again asking the politician join the Zoom link to prepare for the remote interview, but Widdecombe did not reply, it is reported.
Calls and texts sent after the programme aired remained unanswered, ITV said, and the Channel 5 show’s team then contacted her agent later on Wednesday and on Thursday.
A floral tribute for the former Conservative MP who was found dead in her home (Photo: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images)Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone, and later Maidstone and The Weald, from 1987 to 2010. Before entering Parliament, she was a councillor and worked for the Conservative Party.
She was employment minister and later prisons minister in John Major’s government between 1993 and 1997, before becoming shadow home secretary under William Hague.
She found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the reality television shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Widdecombe later joined the Brexit Party in 2019 and became a spokeswoman for Reform UK.
Tributes pour in after ‘nasty, horrific attack’
Speaking to reporters at Chequers, Sir Keir Starmer said the security of lawmakers was “of the utmost importance” as he urged people to rise above any political differences.
The Prime Minister said: “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.”
Security has been tightened for politicians after the murders of two serving members of Parliament in the past decade. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.
The Home Secretary urged the public not to speculate about Widdecombe’s death, describing the circumstances as “extremely distressing”.
Officers outside the house of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor in Dartmoor. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Matt Keeble/PA WireShabana Mahmood said: “The Home Office stands ready to provide whatever support [police] need with their ongoing investigation.”
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said her “heart is breaking” for Ann Widdecombe’s family following news of her death. The Conservative leader said she was “stunned to hear this awful news”, remembering Widdecombe as a “very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind”.
She said: “I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrific to an elderly person.
“It is a nasty, horrific attack and my heart is breaking for her family.
“It’s one thing when someone dies, but to know that they have been murdered in this horrible way is just awful.”
Badenoch also extended her condolences “to Nigel Farage and everyone in Reform, on behalf of the Conservative Party, because we’ve both lost a friend”.
Final TV interview
Widdecombe remained active in politics until her death and gave what became her final television interview on Talk on Wednesday with presenter Mark Dolan, who told The Sun: “She had so much more living to do.”
She had appeared on the breakfast show to discuss Nigel Farage’s resignation as an MP.
In a statement on social media, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the former MP and MEP’s death, and subsequent police murder investigation, was a “terrible reflection on modern Britain”.
The Prime Minister called Widdecombe’s passing ‘a huge, huge loss’ (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty)Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said on Facebook he was devastated to hear of her death and described Widdecombe as “a true political legend” and “one of the finest orators of her generation”.
Former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson said: “I am sad to hear about the loss of Ann Widdecombe, a heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker who could move Tory audiences to such ecstasy that she was a very hard act to follow.”
A life driven by Christian values
Cloud9, the management company that represented Widdecombe after she left politics, said her life and career were driven by strong Christian values and a commitment to public service.“She loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK and offering forthright views on the hot topics of the day.” Cloud9 Management added that Ann once said: “We get one go this side of eternity, one go. Life is not a dress rehearsal; you take opportunities that you like and you go for it. That’s my philosophy.”
Police urged anyone who many have seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Haytor Vale, Haytor, or anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage to contact them.
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