Politics Home | Counter Terrorism Now Leading On Investigation Into Ann Widdecombe Murder

Ann Widdecombe was found dead in her home in Devon last week (Alamy)

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Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP and minister who later joined Reform UK, was found dead in her home last week.

On Saturday evening, a 28-year-old man was arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murder after Widdecombe’s death.

The suspect is believed to have driven almost 300 miles to Widdecombe’s home in Dartmoor, Devon, on the day she was killed. 

On Monday morning, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood posted on X that she had spoken to the head of counter terrorism police and “following new information and evidence, they are now leading on the investigation into the horrific murder of Ann Widdecombe”.

“The police are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack. I will be updating the House further this afternoon.”

The head of national counter-terrorism policing, Laurence Taylor, 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 enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.

“Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police.”

A 26-year-old man was previously arrested on Friday but was released on Saturday and has now been ruled out of all police inquiries. 

Mahmood is set to update MPs on the case on Monday afternoon.