British police have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murdering former government minister and Reform UK politician Ann Widdecombe after she was found dead at her home in southwest England.

The 78-year-old was discovered with what police described as "serious injuries" after officers were called to her property shortly after midday on Thursday.

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Former minister found dead at her home

The suspect, a white British man, was arrested on Friday in Newton Abbot, around 9 miles (15km) from Widdecombe's home. He remains in police custody while the investigation continues.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall Police said there was no evidence to suggest the killing was linked to terrorism or politically motivated. Forensic examinations at Widdecombe's home are ongoing.

Tributes paid across politics

Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Widdecombe's years of public service, paying tribute to her long political career.

Messages of condolence also came from former colleagues in both the Conservative Party and Reform UK following news of her death.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson described her on X as "a heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker," saying she could inspire Conservative audiences and was "a very hard act to follow."

Widdecombe became a prominent figure in British politics through her socially conservative views. She served as a junior minister in John Major's Conservative government between 1992 and 1997 before later becoming Reform UK's immigration and justice spokesperson under Nigel Farage.

Long political career

She was an outspoken opponent of abortion and opposed equalising the age of consent for homosexual and heterosexual relationships. During her time in government, she also defended the practice of shackling pregnant prisoners during childbirth to prevent escapes.

A Catholic convert who never married and described herself as a virgin, Widdecombe frequently spoke in support of traditional family values.

Following her departure from Parliament, she gained a new audience by appearing on the BBC dance competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2010. Although judges criticised her performances, viewers kept her in the competition for several weeks.

She later joined Nigel Farage's Brexit Party and served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020. Most recently, she was Reform UK's immigration spokesperson as the party rose in national opinion polls.

Attacks on British politicians

The investigation comes after two serving British MPs were murdered in the past decade.

Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed by a far-right extremist during the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign.

In 2021, Conservative MP David Amess was fatally stabbed by a man inspired by the Islamic State militant group.

Police have said there is currently no indication that Widdecombe's killing was connected to her political activities.

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11 July 2026

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I disagree with many of the stands she took, but she was one of the great characters of British politics.

Terrible.

She was a legend. This is an awful way for her to leave this earth.

RIP Anne.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The suspect, a white British man,

Funny how they're so quick to announce the ethnicity when its whitey.

2 tier Britain yet again. At least we know what to assume when they dont mention it.

Saw another case recently when a gang of black guys jumped a white guy and the police ran in and slammed the white guy up against the wall while the black guys walked off. It would be comical if it weren't so sad.

I look forward to the next time the uk police ask me for assistance with something.😄

Just now, JonnyF said:

Funny how they're so quick to announce the ethnicity when its whitey.

2 tier Britain yet again. At least we know what to assume when they dont mention it.

Saw another case recently when a gang of black guys jumped a white guy and the police ran in and slammed the white guy up against the wall while the black guys walked off. It would be comical if it weren't so sad.

I look forward to the next time the uk police ask me for assistance with something.😄

I suspect this will be quite often the case in future to avoid cretins jumping up and down screaming "it was an asylum seeker" and posting hurty words on social media in order to provoke a violent reaction.

Just now, MIke B Bad said:

I suspect this will be quite often the case in future to avoid cretins jumping up and down screaming "it was an asylum seeker" and posting hurty words on social media in order to provoke a violent reaction.

Grievance mongering again, who’d have thunk it?!

Edited July 11Jul 11 by Chomper Higgot

28 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Funny how they're so quick to announce the ethnicity when its whitey.

2 tier Britain yet again. At least we know what to assume when they dont mention it.

They now always announce the colour and nationality of the culprit, after they didn't do so in the case of the person who murdered three kids at a dance class in Southport. The fact that he was black led to online posts stating with no evidence at all that he was an illegal immigrant and that lead to serious rioting. In fact, he was a British citizen.

31 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

I suspect this will be quite often the case in future to avoid cretins jumping up and down screaming "it was an asylum seeker" and posting hurty words on social media in order to provoke a violent reaction.

They do now always announce the colour and nationality of the culprit, after they didn't do so in the case of the person who murdered three kids at a dance class in Southport. The fact that he was black led to online posts stating with no evidence at all that he was an illegal immigrant and that lead to serious rioting. In fact, he was a British citizen.

40 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

I suspect this will be quite often the case in future to avoid cretins jumping up and down screaming "it was an asylum seeker" and posting hurty words on social media in order to provoke a violent reaction.

Its really handy actually. If they dont announce it was a white British guy within 10 minutes we can safely assume it was a cultural enricher.

The old "tell me without telling me". 😀

Most of the time they don't mention it obvs. Its a choirboy from Cardiff or a "car" killed 5 people. Bad bad car. Ban cars from city centres.

12 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

They do now always announce the colour and nationality of the culprit, after they didn't do so in the case of the person who murdered three kids at a dance class in Southport. The fact that he was black led to online posts stating with no evidence at all that he was an illegal immigrant and that lead to serious rioting. In fact, he was a British citizen.

Second gen immigrant.

Take a look at his first gen immigrant parents and how they covered for him. Should be jailed as well.

15 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

They do now always announce the colour and nationality of the culprit, after they didn't do so in the case of the person who murdered three kids at a dance class in Southport. The fact that he was black led to online posts stating with no evidence at all that he was an illegal immigrant and that lead to serious rioting. In fact, he was a British citizen.

"Always"? That's not what I've seen in the media. They claim to not know when it's a non-white, and are often quick to say it's not terrorism related when a non-white is involved, but very quick, as in Scotland, to say it's terrorism when it's a white suspect.

The UK government and officials are living in fear of the racial tension they have created, and their only action seems to be trying to promote a false narrative about the 'value' of immigration and stifle free speech.

19 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Its really handy actually. If they dont announce it was a white British guy within 10 minutes we can safely assume it was a cultural enricher.

The old "tell me without telling me". 😀

Most of the time they don't mention it obvs. Its a choirboy from Cardiff or a "car" killed 5 people. Bad bad car. Ban cars from city centres.

It’s tougher than that.

No matter the facts or how they are reported you’ll leap to spinning some grievance.

11 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

"Always"? That's not what I've seen in the media. They claim to not know when it's a non-white, and are often quick to say it's not terrorism related when a non-white is involved, but very quick, as in Scotland, to say it's terrorism when it's a white suspect.

The UK government and officials are living in fear of the racial tension they have created, and their only action seems to be trying to promote a false narrative about the 'value' of immigration and stifle free speech.

The racial tension is created by the race baiting hate mongers.

1 hour ago, MIke B Bad said:

I suspect this will be quite often the case in future to avoid cretins jumping up and down screaming "it was an asylum seeker" and posting hurty words on social media in order to provoke a violent reaction.

1 hour ago, MIke B Bad said:

I suspect this will be quite often the case in future to avoid cretins jumping up and down screaming "it was an asylum seeker" and posting hurty words on social media in order to provoke a violent reaction.

1 hour ago, MIke B Bad said:

I suspect this will be quite often the case in future to avoid cretins jumping up and down screaming "it was an asylum seeker" and posting hurty words on social media in order to provoke a violent reaction.

The 'white man' might not be an 'asylum seeker' but at the risk of being called a cretin I would vouch that the murderer of Ann Widdecombe is a leftist/Marxist, illegal immigrant and Hamas loving paid agitator intent on destroying our once great nation.

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The racial tension is created by the race baiting hate mongers.

No the left thought the solution was to overcompensate, and discriminate against indigenous British people.

History tells us that attacking indigenous British people in Britain is unwise.

Lets see what happens this time.

History often repeats itself. Strap in Higgot.

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

No the left thought the solution was to overcompensate, and discriminate against indigenous British people.

History tells us that attacking indigenous British people in Britain is unwise.

Lets see what happens this time.

History often repeats itself. Strap in Higgot.

It does Jonny, but seem to have forgotten the recent 14 years of rightwing tenure.

That aside, the racist rightwing nationalist haven’t done so well out of history.

BBC took 3 lines before they added “26 year old white man”

Took them 3 weeks to report that the Southport killer was not a Welsh choirboy but an immigrant from Rwanda’s son.

Says it all really.

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It does Jonny, but seem to have forgotten the recent 14 years of rightwing tenure.

The Tories were not right wing. Uniparty shills. In fact given their open borders policy I'm amazed you are a critic. Their policies were basically aligned with yours.

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

That aside, the racist rightwing nationalist haven’t done so well out of history.

Given that you consider Churchill/Thatcher to be racist rightwing nationalists i would disagree.

Have a look on Bluesky and see all the #bekind lefties rejoicing in this old lady's brutal death.

Its truly sickening. Just like after Charlie Kirk.

The left are truly horrible hypocritical scumbags. 😄

11 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

The Tories were not right wing. Uniparty shills. In fact given their open borders policy I'm amazed you are a critic. Their policies were basically aligned with yours.

Given that you consider Churchill/Thatcher to be racist rightwing nationalists i would disagree.

Odd thing to say given I’ve frequently stated Thatcher, for all her faults, was not a racist.

As for Churchill, he became PM without an election, very much by means of the establishment handing him the keys to Number 10.

Or did your grasp of history miss that bit?

Edited July 11Jul 11 by Chomper Higgot

6 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Have a look on Bluesky and see all the #bekind lefties rejoicing in this old lady's brutal death.

Its truly sickening. Just like after Charlie Kirk.

The left are truly horrible hypocritical scumbags. 😄

I tell you what is missing.

You posting vile suggestions as to why the assailant was in the victims home, like you did when Paul Pelosi was violently attacked in his own home.

Edited July 11Jul 11 by Chomper Higgot

The suspect was white

41 minutes ago, HK MacPhooey said:

The 'white man' might not be an 'asylum seeker' but at the risk of being called a cretin I would vouch that the murderer of Ann Widdecombe is a leftist/Marxist, illegal immigrant and Hamas loving paid agitator intent on destroying our once great nation.

I suspect he was a drug addicted burglar. But, we'll find out in time.

It is a bad reflection on modern society that certain people rejoice at the death of other people for their political beliefs or heritage/culture etc. Also, the political correctness and double-standards of policing in the UK leaves a nasty taste in the mouth as it is clearly biased and justice is supposed to be blind. There really is far too much open hate and wrong-doing misdeeds sloshing around now, which for some reason is tolerated.

57 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

As for Churchill, he became PM without an election, very much by means of the establishment handing him the keys to Number 10

"Cometh the hour, cometh the man"

Has it been established that he knew who AW was? Maybe he simply picked a house with an old lady who we know probably didn't acquiesce to his demands.

1 hour ago, AdolfZ said:

The suspect was white

And has now been released and is no longer part of the investigation.

Off topic inflammatory post removed

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Its really handy actually. If they dont announce it was a white British guy within 10 minutes we can safely assume it was a cultural enricher.

The old "tell me without telling me". 😀

Most of the time they don't mention it obvs. Its a choirboy from Cardiff or a "car" killed 5 people. Bad bad car. Ban cars from city centres.

Don't get excited yet.....but the suspect has been released and is of no further interest to the police......might be an asylum seeker after all .

3 hours ago, HK MacPhooey said:

The 'white man' might not be an 'asylum seeker' but at the risk of being called a cretin I would vouch that the murderer of Ann Widdecombe is a leftist/Marxist, illegal immigrant and Hamas loving paid agitator intent on destroying our once great nation.

You missed out Black or at least dark skinned.