Suspect released in UK politician murder investigation: police
UK police believe Ann Widdecombe was attacked 24 hours before she was found dead at her home
British police said Saturday they had released a man detained over the suspected murder of veteran right-wing politician Ann Widdecombe.
The 78-year-old former Conservative minister was found dead with "serious injuries" on Thursday at her home in Devon, southwest England, according to police.
"A 26-year-old man who was arrested on Friday 10 July on suspicion of murder has since been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation," they said in a further statement on Saturday morning.
BBC reported police believe Widdecombe was attacked 24 hours before she was found dead at her home on Thursday.
Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman had said on Friday he "had no information to say it was a politically motivated crime" and her death was not being treated as terror-related.
"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.
Widdecombe, a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010, was known for her Christian faith and outspoken views.
In 1995 as prisons minister she was embroiled in a row after defending a policy of chaining pregnant prisoners to prevent them from escaping.
A staunch supporter of Brexit, Widdecombe left the Conservatives in 2019 to join the hard-right party of anti-immigration leader Nigel Farage.
Farage on Friday called her death a "terrible reflection on modern Britain", in a video on social media.
"I do fear that for anybody in public life, or especially the political space, things have become even more dangerous today."