Man arrested on suspicion of murder after death of former MP Ann Widdecombe

UK police on Friday arrested a man on suspicion of murder following the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe.

British news outlets reported the former MP, who was 78 years old, was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday morning with serious injuries.

On Friday, UK Police launched a murder investigation after saying the death was "suspicious". 

In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Devon and Cornwall police said they had arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

The police said the "British white male" is in custody and the incident was not being treated as terrorism or politically motivated.

Widdecombe was a former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman. She served as the MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and also served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020.

A prominent Eurosceptic, she supported the Vote Leave campaign in 2016 to withdraw the UK from the European Union.

She stood down from the House of Commons in 2010. She made numerous television and radio appearances and famously competed in the eighth series of the popular BBC dance show Strictly Come Dancing.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the murder investigation is “shocking”, adding the suspect is “clearly dangerous”.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was “stunned” over the “horrific” incident.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Widdecombe "played a decisive role in getting Brexit over the line and will be missed by us all". 

"She is the best known female politician since Margaret Thatcher, I don't think anyone else comes close," Farage said in a television interview on Talk TV.