BREAKING News Update Counter Terrorism Police Investigating the Murder of Catholic Convert Politician Ann Widdecombe

Murder Investigation Launched into the Death of Former MP Ann Widdecombe

A major murder investigation is underway in the United Kingdom following the death of 78-year-old Ann Widdecombe—the prominent former Conservative minister, Brexit Party MEP, and Reform UK spokesperson.

Devon & Cornwall Police wrote on FB - Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) can confirm it is now leading the investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe.
Specialist officers from across the CTP network have been working alongside colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police since a murder investigation was launched last week.
Officers were called to Miss Widdecombe’s home at Haytor, Devon, by the ambulance service at around 11.40am on Thursday 9 July.
Sadly, 78-year-old Miss Widdecombe was located deceased within the property. She had sustained serious injuries.
A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday 11 July.
New information and evidence has come to light during what has been a dynamic and complex investigation and as a result, Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) is now leading the investigation.
The man in custody has since been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
CTPSE will continue to work closely with colleagues from the Devon and Cornwall Police Major Crime Investigation Team and across the Counter Terrorism Policing network in an effort to establish the full circumstances of the incident which led to this murder investigation.
Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation.
“We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.
“Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police.
“We would like to thank local communities, the wider public and the media for their ongoing support and patience, and would ask them to continue to support us in the next stage of the investigation.”
We continue to appeal for anyone who may have any information that could help our investigation to get in touch.
Any relevant information, images or footage can be reported via the Major Incident Public Portal https://orlo.uk/NhEky or to Devon and Cornwall Police on 101.

The Investigation & New Arrests

The criminal investigation is moving rapidly, involving local forces alongside specialist units:

• Initial Suspect Cleared: A 26-year-old man arrested on Friday was fully released from custody on Saturday. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed he is no longer a suspect and has been cleared of any involvement.

• New Arrest in South Yorkshire: On Saturday evening, July 11, counter-terrorism specialists assisted local officers in arresting a 28-year-old white British male at an address in South Yorkshire—roughly 430 kilometers (270 miles) away from Widdecombe's Devon home. He remains in police custody on suspicion of murder.

• Motive Under Review: Counter-terrorism units have assisted in the initial phases.

National and Political Reactions

The circumstances of Widdecombe's death have brought widespread shock across the British political spectrum:

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Labour): Called the circumstances of her death "truly shocking news," urging the public to rise above political divides to support the police investigation.

Kemi Badenoch (Conservative Leader): Expressed her deep "devastation at this terrible news," remembering Widdecombe as a formidable politician who fought fiercely for her values.

Nigel Farage (Reform UK Leader): Shared that he was "deeply saddened" and credited her with playing a decisive role in the Brexit movement, calling her a "force of nature."

Legacy of Faith, Politics, and Public Life

Widdecombe’s public footprint spanned decades across politics, media, and religious advocacy:

Political Career

She served for 23 years as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidstone in Kent. Under Sir John Major’s government, she held ministerial roles for Employment and Home Affairs between 1994 and 1997. A staunch eurosceptic, she returned to politics later in life, serving as a Brexit Party MEP from 2019 to 2020 before becoming a prominent voice and immigration spokesperson for Reform UK.

Religious Conviction

Widdecombe was highly regarded for her unyielding defense of traditional values. She famously left the Church of England in protest over the ordination of women priests, converting to Roman Catholicism in 1993—a move she frequently described as the best decision of her life.

She became an outspoken advocate for the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and freedom of expression. In 1999, during her time as shadow Home Secretary, she was granted a rare 20-minute private audience with Pope St. John Paul II at the Vatican.

Cultural Footprint

After stepping down from Westminster in 2010, she built a highly successful television and entertainment career. Embracing her image as an eccentric, blunt, yet good-natured figure, she won over public audiences with memorable appearances on reality programs like Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

Tributes from the Catholic Community

Religious communities where Widdecombe regularly practiced have expressed profound grief:

• Westminster Cathedral: Archbishop Richard Moth confirmed that a Holy Mass for the salvation of her soul was celebrated at Westminster Cathedral, where Widdecombe occasionally volunteered as a Sunday evening lector.

• Buckfast Abbey: Bishop Nicholas Hudson, the Bishop of Plymouth, along with the monastic community of Buckfast Benedictine Abbey—where Widdecombe was a regular parishioner—offered deep condolences. The Abbey remembered her on social media as a woman of sharp intellect, deep faith, and warmth, noting her fearlessness in standing up for Roman Catholic principles.

• Sources - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mydjl12mwo