A police inquiry into the d3ath of Ann Widdecombe has taken a sh0cking turn after officers confirmed that a 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of mur;der.
The former Conservative MP, minister and later reality TV favourite was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor, after emergency services were called to the property. Her management team had initially announced her passing with deep sadness, before Devon and Cornwall Police later confirmed that a mur;der investigation had been opened.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman told a press conference that the suspect had been arrested at an address in Newton Abbot and remained in police custody while inquiries continued. Police said there was no information at this stage to suggest the incident was politically motivated or terror-related.
Forensic officers have been examining Miss Widdecombe’s home, which has been placed behind a cordon as investigators work through what police described as a fast-moving and deeply distressing case. Officers have asked anyone with information, images or footage that could help the inquiry to contact Devon and Cornwall Police.
Ann Widdecombe appearing on Talk TV on Wednesday. Her death was announced this morning
Miss Widdecombe pictured in the garden of her house on Dartmoor on May 24, 2013
A picture the politician’s home, which she bought in 2008
The update has sent ripples through British politics, where Miss Widdecombe was remembered as a formidable, outspoken and instantly recognisable figure. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the news as deeply sh0cking and said it was a moment to rise above political differences.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the circumstances extremely distressing and urged the public not to speculate while the police investigation continues. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the party was reeling, describing Miss Widdecombe as a fun, feisty woman who spoke her mind and was loved by many who had worked alongside her.
Tributes also came from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who had spoken warmly about Miss Widdecombe earlier in the day, calling her an absolute force of nature. He said she was someone who never left people in any doubt about where she stood, while also describing her as a loyal ally in public life.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he was deeply sh0cked to learn of the circumstances around her passing, adding that the police investigation must now take its course. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the idea that such a long-serving public figure could have been mur;dered was truly horrifying.
Miss Widdecombe’s management team, Cloud9 Management, said they were devastated by the news after what they described as a traumatic and upsetting 24 hours. They asked for privacy for the family and urged anyone with relevant information to come forward to police.
Miss Widdecombe during an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with Anton Du Beke
The Reform UK leader told TalkTV: ‘She never let anyone… with any doubt in their minds at all where she stood on all the great issues of the day, and she was formidable too.
Ann Widdecombe spent more than two decades in Parliament, representing Maidstone and later Maidstone and The Weald from 1987 to 2010. She held ministerial roles under John Major, including Minister of State for Prisons, and became known for her uncompromising views, sharp debating style and strong Christian faith.
After leaving Westminster, she entered a new chapter in the public eye. In 2010, she became an unlikely star of Strictly Come Dancing alongside Anton Du Beke, winning over viewers with routines that were more theatrical than polished but impossible to ignore. Their partnership became one of the show’s most memorable, bringing her to a fresh audience far beyond politics.
Anton said he was devastated by the news, remembering her as fun, upbeat, positive and supportive. He said they had enjoyed an incredible time together on Strictly and remained firm friends afterward.
Miss Widdecombe also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and continued to write, speak and campaign long after leaving the House of Commons. In later years she joined the Brexit Party, was elected as an MEP, and later became aligned with Reform UK, remaining active in public debate until just days before her passing.
Her career divided opinion, but few doubted her impact. Whether people agreed with her or not, Ann Widdecombe occupied a rare space in British life: a politician who became a TV personality, a campaigner who relished argument, and a public figure whose name carried instant recognition.
As police continue their inquiry, the focus now remains on the investigation and on those closest to Miss Widdecombe. For many across politics, television and the wider public, her passing marks the end of a singular and often controversial life lived entirely in the public eye.
