British authorities are investigating the death of Ann Widdecombe, 78, one of the most prominent figures on the British right, a former Conservative MP and later part of Nigel Farage's Brexit Reform UK.
Police announced they had arrested a 26-year-old British man in connection with the incident, but he was released on Saturday morning after investigators confirmed he was no longer considered involved in the case.
Widdecombe's body was found at her home in the rural area of Haytor Vale, Devon, with multiple injuries. Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed that it is a murder and have launched a criminal investigation into the circumstances of the crime.
According to authorities, there is no evidence so far that the incident was politically or terrorist-motivated. Although counter-terrorism units were initially consulted for precautionary reasons, investigators have ruled out this possibility for now.
Detective Ilona Rosson described the event as "extremely tragic" for the victim's family and friends, while calling on citizens who have seen suspicious movements or have footage from security cameras or vehicle cameras to assist the investigation.
Widdecombe's death has sparked strong reactions on the British political scene. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, as well as the Home Secretary in the Labour government, Shabana Mahmood, expressed shock at the event and urged citizens to avoid speculation until the investigation is complete.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also posted a touching message on social media, calling Widdecombe "an extraordinary woman of strong principles" who "dedicated her life to public service and her ideals." He added that Britain and his party are "much poorer without her."
Born in Bath in 1947, Ann Widdecombe was a Conservative Party MP from 1987 to 2010 and held government posts during the term of Prime Minister John Major.
After leaving active politics, she devoted herself to writing and became a well-known television figure, even participating in the show "Strictly Come Dancing", the British version of "Dancing with the Stars".
After the Brexit referendum in 2016, she returned to politics as a Brexit Party MEP in 2019-2020, before joining Reform UK, where she was responsible for justice and immigration issues.
Meanwhile, the police have announced that investigations are continuing at an intensive pace, while the victim's apartment remains surrounded by law enforcement to collect evidence and fully unravel the incident.
