The 78-year-old was found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon, on Thursday (July 9), with “serious injuries.”

A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of her murder on Saturday and has since been rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, confirmed the suspect was not known to the Government’s Prevent anti-extremism programme.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, she paid tribute to Miss Widdecombe, describing her as a “unique figure” in UK politics and a “devoted public servant.”

Ms Mahmood said: “She was a unique figure in our politics, a distinctive and devoted public servant, the likes of whom we will rarely, if ever, see again.

“Ann had a profound faith. Her journey in this life has ended too soon.”

Ann Widdecombe was fearless and forthright. She was a devoted public servant, the likes of whom we will rarely, if ever, see again.

The circumstances of Ann’s murder are extremely distressing. The investigation is now being led by @TerrorismPolice . The police have cautioned… pic.twitter.com/zVie378NTm

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— Shabana Mahmood MP (@ShabanaMahmood) July 13, 2026

Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation following the discovery of new evidence.

Laurence Taylor, head of UK counter-terrorism policing, said: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation.

“We are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.

“Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us.”

He urged anyone with information to contact police and thanked the public and media for their support and patience.

Counter terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe (Image: Zoe Head-Thomas/PA Wire)

Miss Widdecombe, who was a former Conservative MP, Brexit Party MEP, and most recently a Reform UK spokeswoman, was found dead at about 11.40am on Thursday at her remote bungalow on Dartmoor.

Police believe she was attacked around 12.30pm on Wednesday, shortly before she was due to appear on Channel 5’s Matt Allwright show.

ITV News reported that Miss Widdecombe stopped responding to WhatsApp messages from a TV producer after the time police believe the attack took place.

Nigel Farage has been offered a meeting with the head of a parliamentary security body following Reform UK’s concerns about the safety of its MPs, Ms Mahmood confirmed.

The Home Secretary said she would also review security guidance for former MPs and members of political parties without representation in Parliament.

Thank you for this offer @ShabanaMahmood.

I will meet with the Chair of RAVEC and discuss the security of all Reform politicians, including those who are not MPs. https://t.co/fkU7QnzuKV

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— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) July 13, 2026

Footage published by media outlets showed a shirtless man being arrested in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Saturday (July 11).

In cases such as this, investigators will examine the suspect’s devices for evidence of terrorist material and consider factors including mental health.

Police have said that if the investigation continues under terrorism legislation, they could be permitted to detain the suspect for up to 14 days for questioning.

Miss Widdecombe first entered Parliament as the Conservative MP for Maidstone in 1987.

She later served as an MEP for the Brexit Party and became a spokeswoman for Reform UK.

Outside of politics, she became a familiar face in popular culture, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

Following her death, there were calls for caution from Reform UK figures after Devon and Cornwall Police initially ruled out a political or terrorist motive for the killing.

Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, said it would be “wise, when considering motivation” for police to keep an open mind “as opposed to ruling things out too quickly that may then end up being ruled back in”.

Gawain Towler, a board member for the party, said changing the line of inquiry risked undermining trust in the police.

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Mr Towler said: “In a time when trust in the police is at an all-time low, this just plays into that they are trying to massage public opinion rather than do the job of investigating a brutal murder.

“By appearing to rule something out and then a few days later bringing it back in, they look manipulative and that’s a shame.”

Miss Widdecombe was widely respected across the spectrum for her public service and outspoken character.

​A passenger hub on the North Yorkshire coast is scheduled to close its car park as part of essential maintenance works taking place next week.

​TransPennine Express (TPE) has asked passengers not to use the car park at Scarborough Station on Monday, July 20.

​The rail operator said that essential maintenance works would be taking place and that vehicles could not be parked at the coastal station’s car park.

Scarborough Station, Current Frontage. Align Property Services

​“It is important that no vehicles are parked overnight from Sunday 19th July into Monday 20th July,” TPE noted.

​It added: “Thank you for your cooperation.”

​The company did not specify what the maintenance works are set to involve.

​Earlier this year, a £14 million project to preserve the Grade II-listed building’s historical character, including a new roof, drainage systems and restored stonework, was completed.

​Roof repairs at Scarborough Station were started after a glazing failure in 2021.

The station was made safe and, after funding constraints were overcome, the full restoration began in spring 2025.

Scarborough’s coastal location meant Network Rail had to take into account local constraints.

Hawks were employed to prevent seagulls nesting during the main roof work last summer, and specific types of tile, paint and timber were used because of the salt-heavy sea air.

Ann Widdecombe was the victim of a ‘targeted attack’, the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing has said.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said police are still looking into any ‘motivation’ behind the 78-year-old’s death.

Police believe she was killed in her remote Dartmoor home on Wednesday lunchtime.

A 28-year-old remains in custody.

Mr Taylor said this afternoon: ‘It is clear that this was a targeted attack.

‘We are still working to understand the extent of any planning or preparation, and the motivation that sits behind that attack.

‘I don’t want to comment further on that motivation or preparation at this stage of our inquiries.’

It came as the boss of Devon and Cornwall Police has defended her embattled force over the way it has handled the Ann Widdecombe murder investigation.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez hit back at criticism after her officers spent days insisting the Tory former minister’s death had no link to terrorism.

But counter-terror officers were called in yesterday to take over from local detectives as the investigation escalated.

It prompted claims from Reform UK that police misled the public over the death of the party’s immigration and justice spokesman at her home on Dartmoor last Wednesday.

In a robust statement today, Ms Hernandez said: ‘There’s been some commentary about the way Devon and Cornwall police have communicated during the early stages of this case.

‘But, as the Home Secretary (Shabana Mahmood) said yesterday, it is not unusual that in a fast-paced investigation, more information comes to light that changes the nature or the character of what the police are dealing with.’

Counter-terror officers took over running the investigation on Monday following the discovery of the former MP’s body at her home on Dartmoor on Thursday.

The suspect was captured on CCTV leaving his property shortly before 8am on Wednesday with what appears to be a pole in the pocket of his shorts

Forensic officers were seen heading into the house in Rotherham after the arrest on Saturday

Home Secretary Ms Mahmood confirmed yesterday that the British white suspect arrested on suspicion of murder and terror offences, who the Mail is not naming for legal reasons, was not known to the Government’s deradicalisation programme, Prevent. 

Devon and Cornwall Police has faced significant criticism over its initial handling of the inquiry and the fact it was five days in before counter terror officers took over.

Local officers waited more than 24 hours to announce a murder investigation, before Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said on Friday night: ‘The incident is not being treated as terrorism’, and later said there was no evidence to suggest the crime was politically motivated.

Devon and Cornwall Police also arrested a local labourer in error on Friday before detaining a 28-year-old suspect nearly 300 miles away in Rotherham, south Yorkshire, on Saturday night.

He remains in police custody.

The Mail has learnt that items of varying political ideology, including Russian material, have been found at the suspect’s home and on electronic devices.

In her statement, the Police and Crime Commissioner paid tribute to Ms Widdecombe ‘an exceptionally likeable character’.

A huge cordon remains in place near Ms Widdecombe’s remote home, but Ms Hernandez hinted at an imminent return to normality.

Floral tributes continue to grow near a police cordon in Haytor Vale, Dartmoor, where Ms Widdecombe was killed  

She said: ‘When I visited the scene on Sunday, I was impressed by the efforts being made by the police to speak to residents and address their very understandable concerns.

‘I am sure the impact of this major operation has meant that some people have had to wait longer than they would expect for routine services, or have not yet had their issues resolved.

‘I have been assured officers and staff will be returning to business as usual over the coming days, which are also expected to be particularly busy with two final legs of the World Cup and the start of school holidays.’

Reform UK board member Gawain Towler led the initial criticism of the police, saying: ‘In the past, they’d have said all avenues of investigation are open but this time they tried to close out avenues of the investigation. In a time when trust in the police is at an all-time low, this just plays into that they are trying to massage public opinion.’

The killing has reignited fears about MPs’ safety following the murders of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox.

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The couple’s daughter, Athena, who appeared via video-link from the US, told the court her father was a “jealous, conniving, narcissistic villain”.

“How could you do such an evil, selfish, malicious thing?

“You couldn’t stand the fact she had so many people who cared about her.

“No amount of years rotting in prison will ever amount to what you deserve, because you deserve no life.

“You are a pathetic, unloved man.

“The day you killed my mother, you killed me too. I feel I will never be happy again.

“A dad is supposed to protect their daughter from pain, instead you caused the worst pain of my life.

“I will not let you defeat me, I will show up for her, my mum, and I will continue to make her proud.”

Jurors were told Thompson was aware his wife had started a new relationship and was planning to move out, and she had requested about £65,000 as part of a divorce settlement.

Prosecutor Miranda Moore KC told the jury posts Kimberley shared on Facebook and Snapchat in the early hours of that morning saying she had “drank too much” raised suspicion among her friends and family because it had a spelling error and was not written in the way she wrote.

Shant said Thompson had made a “concerted attempt to conceal” what he had done, and “set about creating a false scene to fool the police”.

“You were literally trying to get away with murder.

“The evidence makes it clear you pretended to do CPR and you feigned distress on the phone to the emergency services.

“You also took her from her family, friends and colleagues – a woman who was accomplished, valued and loved.

“She adored her children and she adored the fact she was about to start a new life.”

Det Ch Insp Torie Harrison, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said Kimberley faced about two decades of domestic abuse.

She paid tribute to her friends and family for “the grace they have shown throughout our investigation and particularly over the last six weeks”.

“The level of abuse Kim was subjected to was horrific, and I want to take this opportunity to say to anyone who may be living a similar life that help is available.”

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A road was closed while the vehicle was recovered from the water

A driver had a luck escape after their car left the road and ended up in water. The car entered the water along French Drove, Thorney, this morning (Tuesday, July 14). The car had to be recovered by Cambridgeshire Police. The road was closed while recovery took place.

A police spokesperson said: “A driver had a lucky escape this morning on French Drove, between the Lincolnshire border and Thorney, after their vehicle left the road and ended up in the New South Eau.

“Thankfully, the driver was able to get out of the vehicle and climb to safety before emergency services arrived. The driver was assessed by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust for any injuries.

“The road was closed for a period while recovery work took place to safely remove the vehicle from the river. Please take extra care on rural roads.”

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