Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe after officers discovered her with serious injuries at a property on Dartmoor, according to the text provided. Detectives say the inquiry is moving "at a significant pace" as specialist officers carry out forensic examinations and search for the person responsible.

The investigation remains in its early stages, with police urging the public not to speculate while extensive enquiries continue.

Detectives appeal for crucial evidence

According to the statement, Devon and Cornwall Police were called by the ambulance service to an address at Haytor at around 11.40am on Thursday, 9 July. Officers reported finding the 78-year-old deceased inside the property.

A murder investigation has been launched by the force's Major Crime Investigation Team. Police said a cordon remains in place, with forensic officers examining the scene and road closures surrounding the property.

Search focuses on key suspect

Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said investigators believe the suspect is a white male and confirmed that significant resources have been deployed to establish exactly what happened.

Police appealed for witnesses or anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage from the Haytor Vale area to come forward. Officers said even seemingly minor information could prove vital to the investigation.

Calls to avoid speculation

Rosson urged members of the public to avoid speculation, particularly on social media, warning that unfounded claims could hinder the investigation and cause additional distress to the family and friends of the deceased.

An increased police presence has been deployed in the area to support the investigation and reassure local residents, with officers remaining at the scene as enquiries continue.

Tributes accompany unfolding investigation

The text also says tributes were paid from across the political spectrum, including by Downing Street and politicians from different parties, recognising Widdecombe's decades of public service while expressing condolences to her family.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was also quoted as describing the reported circumstances as "extremely distressing" and said the Home Office stood ready to provide any support requested by Devon and Cornwall Police as the investigation progresses.

Police say they have launched murder investigation into death of Ann Widdecombe – UK politics live

Police looking for a "white male". Dont think we ever saw this when it was one of the non natives?

As far as politicians go she was alright - Should have been right at the bottom of anyone's list of UK politicians who deserve death.

RIP!

1 hour ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Police looking for a "white male". Dont think we ever saw this when it was one of the non natives?

Jesus, not in every thread, please, can you just refrain from posting your paranoid racist nonsense for once.

9 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Jesus, not in every thread, please, can you just refrain from posting your paranoid racist nonsense for once.

If softly pointing out the lefts clear double standards on perpetrators of crime depending on their skin color triggers so badly, maybe your team could start skin color descriptions for ALL crims, even (gasp!) when they are dark. Jeez

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of Ann Widdecombe, police say.

Devon and Cornwall Police say a white British male is in custody after the 78-year-old was found at her home on Thursday with serious injuries

The incident is not being treated as terrorism and there is "no information" to suggest it was politically motivated, they add. Police say it is too early to comment on whether the suspect was known to Widdecombe.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp9l8l05vxet

If she had succeded in bringing back the death

penalty it might turn out to be the punishment fits

the crime .

Assuming they got the right man of course .

6 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Police looking for a "white male". Dont think we ever saw this when it was one of t

For goodness sake whoever is in charge please sort out this "remove edit function " button. It makes sensible subsequent posting virtually impossible if for any reason you decide to quote and then change your mind. Having it appear at the bottom of the posting space for a split second is utterly pointless. I am far from the only one to have mentioned this over several months!

Back to the topic. I liked her (met her once). I didn't agree with all her politics but she was funny, had principles she stuck firmly to and was honest - qualities lacking in many of our politicians!

They've arrested someone, probably a crazy lefty

46 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

They've arrested someone, probably a crazy lefty

Doubt it. It will be the usual toerag habitual offender with a long history of burglary, and ABH. I expect that he will come from a council estate and was a chronic truant who spent much of his youth in care or under supervision.

47 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

They've arrested someone, probably a crazy lefty

The police said, and it's quoted above, there is no information to suggest a political motive.

I wonder who called the Ambulance in the first place, or dsd I miss something?

Edited July 11Jul 11 by wil iam not

If the police hadn't made it clear that the suspect was white and British, social media would be full of racist speculation and idiots like Yaxley-Lennon, Lucy Connelly and Rupert Lower would be organising protests and stirring up more hatred.

10 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

If the police hadn't made it clear that the suspect was white and British, social media would be full of racist speculation and idiots like Yaxley-Lennon, Lucy Connelly and Rupert Lower would be organising protests and stirring up more hatred.

That is for the very obvious reason that when the suspect is not white and not British the police do not announce the suspects color. So when the police say they have arrested a "British man" then there is a 99.9999% certainty that the suspect is a cultural enricher.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

They've arrested someone, probably a crazy lefty

A person of many talents, solving many of Pattaya crimes and the UK from your own armchair before the police have even made a statement.

3 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Doubt it. It will be the usual toerag habitual offender with a long history of burglary, and ABH. I expect that he will come from a council estate and was a chronic truant who spent much of his youth in care or under supervision.

She'd been getting death threats, that would be from lefties

3 hours ago, bannork said:

The police said, and it's quoted above, there is no information to suggest a political motive.

Why would she get death threats? because she was on Strictly?

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Why would she get death threats? because she was on Strictly?

Because she didnt agree with the lefts population replacement scheme, nor did she want to forever destroy "Britishness" by getting the country absorbed into the malevolent & failing socialist experiment that is Europe.

It triggered team woke no end. And as we know, when spoiled libs arent getting their way, it always ends in violence.

RIP Ann.

5 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Because she didnt agree with the lefts population replacement scheme, nor did she want to forever destroy "Britishness" by getting the country absorbed into the malevolent & failing socialist experiment that is Europe.

It triggered team woke no end. And as we know, when spoiled libs arent getting their way, it always ends in violence.

RIP Ann.

There is no such thing as a ‘replacement scheme’ it’s a worn out racist trope.

12 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Because she didnt agree with the lefts population replacement scheme, nor did she want to forever destroy "Britishness" by getting the country absorbed into the malevolent & failing socialist experiment that is Europe.

It triggered team woke no end. And as we know, when spoiled libs arent getting their way, it always ends in violence.

RIP Ann.

What evidence do you have that Anne Widdecombe was murdered by 'spoiled libs'?

1 minute ago, bannork said:

What evidence do you have that Anne Widdecombe was murdered by 'spoiled libs'?

None whatsoever. And I never stated AW was "murdered by spoiled libs".

What we HAVE seen are repeated attempts by lefties to end conservative politicians lives - most notably Trump. Although I hear Farage receives endless death threats from the same crew, and will need lifelong security.

Its just the way they roll.

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

If the police hadn't made it clear that the suspect was white and British, social media would be full of racist speculation and idiots like Yaxley-Lennon, Lucy Connelly and Rupert Lower would be organising protests and stirring up more hatred.

Exactly.

It's just terible that these days the police now have to mention skin colour so the usual right-wing nutters don't take to the streets, start rioting, burning hotels, mosques and private property. A sad state of affairs but entirely justifiable since social media now seems to act as sole jury and executioner through the manipulation of those looking to stir hatred.

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There is no such thing as a ‘replacement scheme’ it’s a worn out racist trope.

Schrodingers replacement? White Brits are becoming the minority esp in major urban areas, which we all know is happening thanks to demographic stats. Yet for you its not happening?

A truly bizarre post if I may say so.

4 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Schrodingers replacement? White Brits are becoming the minority esp in major urban areas, which we all know is happening thanks to demographic stats. Yet for you its not happening?

A truly bizarre post if I may say so.

Yes I agree, truly bizarre.

Away with you and your racist tropes:

https://extremism.gwu.edu/replacement-deadliest-conspiracy

5 minutes ago, johnnybangkok said:

Exactly.

It's just terible that these days the police now have to mention skin colour so the usual right-wing nutters don't take to the streets, start rioting, burning hotels, mosques and private property. A sad state of affairs but entirely justifiable since social media now seems to act as sole jury and executioner through the manipulation of those looking to stir hatred.

It's because the woke govt wouldn't come clean when migrants were causing sex offenses so now they announce it early, of course you lefties don't understand

9 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

None whatsoever. And I never stated AW was "murdered by spoiled libs".

What we HAVE seen are repeated attempts by lefties to end conservative politicians lives - most notably Trump. Although I hear Farage receives endless death threats from the same crew, and will need lifelong security.

Its just the way they roll.

Which doesn’t stop you posting nonsense:

“At a press conference in Exeter, the assistant chief constable Matt Longman said the force did not believe at this stage that the killing was politically motivated, and after an initial consultation with counter-terrorism officers, had ruled out a terrorist motive.

“It’s early stages of the investigation, so we remain open-minded at this time,” Longman said. “I’ve got no information to believe that that is a politically motivated crime.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/10/police-investigating-death-of-ann-widdecombe

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

It's because the woke govt wouldn't come clean when migrants were causing sex offenses so now they announce it early, of course you lefties don't understand

Always so quick to throw out labels. I'm not a 'lefty' - I'm a liberal. Do you even know the difference? Here, I'll help -

'While both terms fall on the left side of the political spectrum , liberals seek to reform and regulate the existing capitalist system, whereas leftists push for systemic change or the abolition of capitalism in favor of socialism'

Just now, johnnybangkok said:

Always so quick to throw out labels. I'm not a 'lefty' - I'm a liberal. Do you even know the difference? Here, I'll help -

'While both terms fall on the left side of the political spectrum , liberals seek to reform and regulate the existing capitalist system, whereas leftists push for systemic change or the abolition of capitalism in favor of socialism'

What we can see is the UK is going down hill fast, caused by the Conservatives not being real Conservatives and lefty labour focusing on all the wrong policies, 14 years in opposition and had no plan, Starmer and Burnham both as bad as each other

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

If the police hadn't made it clear that the suspect was white and British, social media would be full of racist speculation and idiots like Yaxley-Lennon, Lucy Connelly and Rupert Lower would be organising protests and stirring up more hatred.

Perhaps, but have you been to that part of Devon? Non native (ie non white) people are rarer than Guardmens <deleted> in India! Mind you, I think there is a kebab shop in Okehampton.

Tis Devon you, Oi carnt read and Oi carnt write, but Oi can droive a tracterr!

For real sophistication and a diverse culture you have to venture north into Somerset, up past Taunton!

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

What we can see is the UK is going down hill fast, caused by the Conservatives not being real Conservatives and lefty labour focusing on all the wrong policies, 14 years in opposition and had no plan, Starmer and Burnham both as bad as each other

Classic strawman fallacy