A man has been arrested in connection with Ann Widdecombe’s death, as police launch a murder investigation.

Addressing reporters at a press conference, Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said that a 26-year-old White British man had been arrested at an address in Newton Abbot on suspicion of murder.

It was previously reported that Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP, was found dead in her home in Dartmoor, Devon yesterday (9 July), with a police statement saying the 78-year-old had sustained ‘serious injuries’.

Longman added that Widdecombe’s death was not being treated as terrorism.

“Detectives from the force major crime investigation team have launched a murder investigation, and are conducting extensive inquiries into the circumstances surrounding Ms Widdecombe’s death,” he said.

Ann Widdecombe was a high profile MP in the 1980s and 90s (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

He added that there was also ‘no indication to believe it was politically motivated’ at this time.

Longman also urged people not to speculate about Widdecombe’s death online, with anyone who has relevant information instead urged to come forward.

“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

“I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media.

“That’s not only potentially harmful to our investigation, but also deeply distressing to the family and friends of Ms Widdecombe.”

A police cordon remains in place outside Widdecombe’s home while officers continue forensic examinations at the property. Road closures are also in place across the area.

A previous statement shared by Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson earlier in the day called Widdecombe’s death ‘extremely tragic’, adding that an enquiry was ‘moving at a significant pace’.

A police cordon remains in place outside Widdecombe’s home (PA)

“This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time,” she said.

“Our murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened and to locate the person responsible who we believe to be a white male.

“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 are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Haytor Vale, Haytor, or anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage which could assist with our investigation.”

The statement continued: “We have an increased uniformed police presence in the area to both support the investigation and provide reassurance to residents. Anyone with concerns can speak with our officers at the scene.

Widdecombe was a member of the Conservative party and, more recently, Reform UK (David Tramontan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

“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 Ann Widdecombe.”

Responding to the news, Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to speculate on the specifics of Widdecombe’s death, urging the public to come together and help police apprehend the ‘clearly dangerous’ suspect.

“He’s clearly dangerous, and I implore everybody who’s got any information in relation to him to help the police with their inquiries, get him into police custody,” he said.

“Ann Widdecombe was a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind and she was 78 years old, she was an elderly woman,” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said of the news.

“I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrific to an elderly person. It was a nasty, horrific attack and my heart is breaking for her family.”

Police have confirmed that the 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widecombe has been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation.

The former MP and MEP was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday (9 July) after sustaining serious injuries. A man was arrested on Friday.

Widdecombe was an ex-Tory prisons minister and later became a Brexit Party MEP, then subsequently a Reform UK spokesperson.

The 78-year-old was also wider known outside of politics after starring in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

Devon and Cornwall Police previously said the case of her death is ‘not being treated as terrorism’ and there is ‘no information’ at this time to suggest it was a ‘politically-motivated crime’.

Widdecombe appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Confirming the release of the man from custody, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said this morning: “Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.

“Detectives continue to carry out numerous enquiries 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 Miss Widdecombe. The family have also asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with what has happened.

“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 have urged people not to speculate about her death online. (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Following Widdecombe’s suspected murder, Sir Keir Starmer has urged people to come together across political divides.

He said he had spoken to his likely successor Andy Burnham, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage to ‘urge everybody to come together at a moment like this’.

In a social media statement Farage said Widdecombe’s death, and subsequent police murder investigation, was a ‘terrible reflection on modern Britain’.

The former Tory MP became a member of his Brexit Party in 2019 and served as an MEP representing South west England in Brussels between 2019 and 2020.

She went on to become immigration and justice spokeswoman for Reform UK and appeared on TalkTV on Wednesday, the day before she was found dead.

Widdecombe was due to also be a guest on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show on Wednesday afternoon, but did not appear.

The Reform UK spokesperson had reportedly exchanged messages with a researcher but didn’t respond when they tried to contact her to join a Zoom call from home.

A murder investigation has been launched into the death of former MP and MEP Ann Widdecombe, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

She was found dead in her home in Dartmoor, Devon yesterday (9 July), aged 78, having sustained ‘serious injuries’, a police statement said.

Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said: “This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time.

“Our murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened and to locate the person responsible who we believe to be a white male.

“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 are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Haytor Vale, Haytor, or anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage which could assist with our investigation.

Ann Widdecombe was found dead at the age of 78 this week (Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

“We have an increased uniformed police presence in the area to both support the investigation and provide reassurance to residents. Anyone with concerns can speak with our officers at the scene.

“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 Ann Widdecombe.”

A representative for Widdecombe’s management said in a statement: “We are absolutely devastated by this news following a very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours. We fully support the police in their investigations and we reiterate the family’s desire not to be contacted at this difficult time.

“We implore anyone who may have relevant information to contact Devon & Cornwall Police.”

The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the circumstances around former MP Ann Widdecombe’s death are “extremely distressing”, adding: “My thoughts are with Ann’s family and loved ones”.

A statement from Cloud9 Management, who represented her for more than a decade, said: “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG.

“Her life and career were driven by her strong Christian values and 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.

A murder investigation has been launched following her death (Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)

“Ann was a valued patron of many causes, particularly her animal charities.

“As Ann once said on The Graham Norton Show, ‘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’.

“We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.”

Widdecombe was a Conservative MP between 1987 and 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone and she also held several ministerial positions in Sir John Major’s government.

The political figure became known for far more than her politics, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing.

This came off the back of a decades long political career however, joining Reform UK in 2023. Farage spoke out on X about her death, saying she had played a ‘decisive role’ in getting Brexit ‘over the line’.

He said: “When Ann Widdecombe decided to stand for The Brexit Party in the snap 2019 European Elections, it was a big moment and huge boost. The voters loved her.”

A Downing Street spokeswoman said Widdecombe was “a distinctive figure in British politics for many years”.

The horrific moment a man was seen taking children to McDonald’s after murdering their parents has been released.

Derek Martin, a 67-year-old from Brighton, was previously married to one of his victims’ mothers and claimed that he had been cleaning a window at the property just before the killings in June 2023.

It is alleged that he hit Chloe Bashford, his ex-wife’s daughter, with whom he had a close relationship and visited her home regularly, over the head with a hammer and then stabbed her to death after an argument about money caused him to snap.

Sussex Police said once he was done with the 30-year-old mum of four, her partner, Josh, 33, arrived home from work and saw Martin with a knife in his hand and fled upstairs.

Martin is said to have followed him before stabbing him and then strangling the dad to death.

Derek Martin was found guilty of killing Chloe and Josh Bashford (SWNS)

After murdering her and her husband, Martin changed his clothes and picked up the couple’s children from school before taking them to Costa and McDonald’s in Newhaven for food.

CCTV footage released shows the 67-year-old taking the kids for a day out and even disposing of Chloe’s mobile phone in bushes near the local Sainsbury’s.

Officials claimed that he had attempted to prevent the children from finding the bodies of their parents by removing the door handles from the home.

Once they had wrapped up their day out, he is said to have returned the children to their grandmother’s home in Brighton, bought beers from a shop in Whitehawk and drank them on the seafront before handing himself in to police.

Allegedly, he told authorities when he arrived: “I’ve killed two people.”

Officers surveyed the Bashford family home after the admission and found the bodies of Chloe and Josh.

Martin was arrested and remanded in custody, and slipped a police officer a note detailing where he had left Chloe’s phone after seeing a police appeal.

He admitted to causing the deaths of Chloe and Joshua; however, he denied murdering them as he claimed diminished responsibility due to suffering from a depressive disorder.

After three weeks at trial for the killings, Martin was found guilty on Friday (24 October).

The jury at Lewes Crown Court rejected Martin’s claim of diminished responsibility and instead handed him two counts of murder.

Martin had a close relationship with his ex-stepdaughter and visited her home regularly (SWNS)

Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, at the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “I would like to thank Chloe and Josh’s children and their families for their patience during this investigation.

“It goes without saying how sorry I am that they have had to suffer the loss of Chloe and Josh, and I am in awe at the courage and strength they have all shown following the events of 9 June 2023.”

While he said the result of the trial will ‘not change what happened’, he hopes ‘it will enable them to end this chapter and move onto the next’.

Marko Brooke from the Crown Prosecution Service also said Martin’s claim of having ‘lost it’ did not add up to the evidence found, as he had allegedly waited for the arrival of Josh to murder him.

According to the BBC, five psychiatrists spoke at Martin’s trial, and Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team senior investigating officer DCI Kimball Edey said that he believed that the 67-year-old ‘would have had to have sufficient thought’ to attack Chloe and Josh.

The couple’s relatives described them as ‘brilliant’ parents who ‘would do anything for their children’.

Martin’s sentencing will commence on 6 November.