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Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murdering former United Kingdom (UK) minister Ann Widdecombe, as investigations into her death continue.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the suspect, a white British national, is currently in custody following an arrest carried out with support from Counter Terrorism Policing North East and South Yorkshire Police.
Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson, was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Devon, on Thursday.
Police believe she was attacked nearly 24 hours before she was discovered.
A 26-year-old man was previously arrested in Newton Abbot, Devon, on suspicion of murder but was later released. Police said he was no longer part of the investigation.
The latest arrest was made at an address in South Yorkshire, about 430 kilometres from Widdecombe’s home.
Police said there was currently no evidence linking the incident to terrorism.
“At this time, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident and as a force we retain primacy of the investigation,” Devon and Cornwall Police said.
The force added that the investigation remained active and no further details would be released immediately.
“This is a live and active investigation, and no further information will be issued tonight,” police added.
Widdecombe’s family has been updated on developments, while forensic officers continue working at her Devon property.
Her death was announced by her management team on Friday.
Counter-terrorism officers were initially involved in the investigation but later ruled out the possibility that she was killed in a politically motivated attack.
Widdecombe had a long political career, serving as a Conservative MP for Maidstone in Kent from 1987 to 2010.
She held several government roles, including employment, prisons and Home Office minister under former Prime Minister John Major.
After leaving Parliament, she appeared on television programmes including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
She later joined the Brexit Party in 2019 and became a Member of the European Parliament before joining Reform UK in 2023, where she served as the party’s spokesperson on immigration and justice.
