Overview
- Devon and Cornwall Police launched a murder investigation after the 78-year-old former MP Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her Haytor home with serious injuries on Thursday.
- Officers arrested a 26-year-old white British man at an address in Newton Abbot on Friday but released him on Saturday and said he is no longer part of the inquiry.
- A cordon remains at Widdecombe’s property while specialist teams carry out forensic examinations and detectives conduct door-to-door visits and appeals for CCTV, doorbell and dashcam footage through a Major Incident portal.
- Police say the death is not being treated as terrorism and that there is currently no information to suggest a politically motivated attack; next of kin have been informed and are being supported.
- Widdecombe was a well-known former Conservative minister, Brexit Party MEP and TV personality and her death has prompted cross-party tributes, urgent appeals for public restraint and increased attention on the safety of public figures.