Police in England have taken a 28-year-old man into custody in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murdering former British government minister Ann Widdecombe, the force said on Saturday. The individual, described by police as a white British national, remains in police custody as investigators continue to assemble evidence.
Authorities emphasised there is no information to suggest the killing of the 78-year-old former minister was linked to terrorism or driven by political motives. Earlier developments in the case saw a 26-year-old man released after being arrested on suspicion of murdering Widdecombe; police said that person is no longer part of their inquiries.
The 26-year-old who was released had been detained in Newton Abbot, a town around 9 miles (15 km) from Widdecombe’s residence in Haytor, in southwest England. Police stated the released individual was also a white British national.
Investigation status and timeline
Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said the force's priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined. He added that the investigation is at an early stage but is "moving at a significant pace." The police believe the attack occurred on Wednesday at about 1130 GMT. A day later, ambulance staff called police to Widdecombe’s home, where she was found dead after sustaining serious injuries.
As part of initial enquiries, police consulted counter-terrorism policing, but that national unit is not supporting the investigation, the force said. Investigators also indicated they believed the suspect to be a white male and that they did not currently assess there to be a wider risk to the public.
Profile of the victim
Ann Widdecombe, 78, was a public figure known for socially conservative views. She served as a junior minister during Prime Minister John Major's 1992-1997 government and later acted as an immigration and justice spokesperson for Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Her religious conversion to Catholicism was, in part, a protest against the Church of England's decision to ordain women as priests.
Throughout her career she voiced opposition to abortion and to equalising the age of consent between homosexual and heterosexual relationships. She defended the practice of shackling pregnant prisoners during childbirth as a measure to prevent escape and characterized single mothers as poor role models. On one notable policy stance she differed from many in her party, opposing the hunting of foxes with hounds.
Reactions and political context
News of Widdecombe's death prompted tributes across Britain's political spectrum, including from Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Nigel Farage described her as "an extraordinary woman" and said she "stood up and fought for what she believed in - a devout Christian and somebody with strong, socially conservative views," in a video clip posted on his X account.
The killing follows the tragic deaths of two serving Members of Parliament in recent years. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed by a Nazi-obsessed attacker during the Brexit campaign in 2016. Conservative lawmaker David Amess was stabbed to death in 2021 by a man inspired by the militant group Islamic State. Police have not suggested links between those events and the current investigation.
What is known and what remains uncertain
- The 28-year-old suspect arrested in South Yorkshire is in custody and described as a white British national.
- Police state there is no evidence at this stage to indicate a terrorist or political motive, and counter-terrorism policing is not supporting the probe.
- A 26-year-old previously arrested in Newton Abbot has been released and is no longer part of the investigation.
Authorities have outlined a narrow timeline for the suspected attack and the emergency response, but they continue to gather and examine evidence as the enquiry progresses.