An investigation into a killing has commenced following the passing of former Conservative Member of Parliament Ann Widdecombe.
The 78-year-old, who previously held the role of prisons minister and subsequently served as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party, was discovered deceased at a property in Haytor, close to Newton Abbott, after police attended at 11.40am on Thursday (July 9).
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that Ms Widdecombe had received serious injuries, and officers are searching for a white male thought to be responsible.
Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson described the incident as extremely tragic, expressing that her thoughts were with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe during this difficult time. She noted that the murder inquiry was in its early stages but progressing at a significant pace. According to the Detective Chief Inspector, all necessary resources were being deployed to determine exactly what had occurred and to locate the person responsible, believed to be a white male.
Ms Widdecombe, who had featured on Talk radio the previous day, Wednesday, also became widely known to viewers for her participation in Strictly Come Dancing.
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, characterised the situation as extremely distressing and appealed to the public to refrain from speculation. She expressed deep sadness at the death of Ann Widdecombe, noting that Ann’s dedication to public service was decades long and that she was a true servant of her constituents. Ms Mahmood added that she had spoken to the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall police that day, and the Home Office stood ready to provide whatever support they needed with their ongoing investigation.