UK police open murder probe after former minister Ann Widdecombe found dead
Devon and Cornwall Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of 78-year-old former minister Ann Widdecombe, describing the inquiry as early-stage but progressing quickly.
British police have opened a murder investigation after Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former Conservative MP and junior minister, was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday. Devon and Cornwall Police said the enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace, and that they are deploying all necessary resources to determine what happened and locate the suspect, whom they believe to be a white male.
Officers were called to Widdecombe’s residence around midday on Thursday, where she was discovered with fatal injuries. Forensic examinations are ongoing at the property. Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood posted on X that she was deeply saddened by the “extremely distressing” circumstances of the death.
Widdecombe served in Parliament from 1987 to 2010 and held several junior ministerial posts in John Major’s government. She later joined the Brexit Party, served as an MEP, and worked as an immigration spokesperson for Reform UK. The police investigation follows previous murders of serving MPs, including Jo Cox in 2016 and David Amess in 2021.