Man arrested on suspicion of murder of Ann Widdecombe, police say
BBC News 2026-07-11 23:15:03
Context: Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson, was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Devon, on Thursday. Police believe she was attacked almost 24 hours earlier, and a 28-year-old man has been arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of her murder. The investigation is ongoing, with Devon and Cornwall police leading the inquiry.
Key Facts
- Ann Widdecombe was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Devon, at 11:40 BST on Thursday, and police believe she was attacked almost 24 hours earlier.
- A 28-year-old white British national man was arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murder, and is currently in police custody.
- The arrest was made at an address in South Yorkshire, approximately 270 miles from Widdecombe's Devon property, with support from Counter Terrorism Policing North East and South Yorkshire Police.
- Widdecombe had a long political career, serving as a Tory MP for Maidstone in Kent from 1987 to 2010, and later becoming a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 2019 to 2020.
- A previous suspect, a 26-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of murder but was released on Saturday, prior to the latest arrest.