British Police Open Murder Inquiry Into Death of Former Minister Ann Widdecombe

British police launched a murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former government minister. Devon and Cornwall Police said the enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. Officers are deploying all necessary resources to determine what happened and to locate the person responsible, whom they believe to be a white male.

Widdecombe was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor in south-west England on the edge of Dartmoor National Park on Thursday. A cordon remained in place at the property while specialist officers continue forensic examinations. Police are searching for a suspect in connection with the death at her home on Dartmoor.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the news was really shocking and that his thoughts, and those of others, would be with Widdecombe’s family and friends. He described her as a distinguished politician over many years with many achievements and called the loss huge. UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the circumstances of Widdecombe’s death are extremely distressing.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called her a heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker who could move Tory audiences to such ecstasy that she was a very hard act to follow. Widdecombe served in the House of Commons as an MP from 1987 to 2010 and held several junior ministerial positions in former prime minister John Major’s government.

She defected to Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party in 2019 and later joined Reform UK, becoming its immigration and justice spokeswoman.

Cloud9 Management, which represented her after she left politics, said her life and career were driven by strong Christian values and a commitment to public service.