POLICE have launched a murder probe after Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her remote Devon home â with cops hunting a âwhite maleâ.
The 78-year-old former Tory minister turned Reform UK politician & TV star was found dead at her Dartmoor home on Thursday.
It is understood she was found covered in blood after sustaining a serious head wound.
Devon and Cornwall Police this afternoon announced they have launched a murder investigation into Widdecombeâs death.
Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said in a statement: âThis is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time.
âOur murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened and to locate the person responsible who we believe to be a white male.âSun
What you need to knowâŠ
- Ann Widdecombe, 78, has been found dead at her Devon home
- The politicianâs carer reportedly found her body
- Widdecombeâs management said they are âabsolutely devastatedâ
- The Home Secretary said the circumstances are âextremely distressingâ
- What we know about her cause of death as cops launch murder probe
- Who are her family? From the late politicianâs parents to her Anglican reverend brother, everything you need to know
- Anton Du Beke has spoken out about the death of his friend and former Strictly Come Dancing partner
Officers attended her home and spoke to a carer who worked for the former MP and is believed to have found her body.
Details of the suspicious circumstances of Widdecombeâs death had been kept under wraps over concerns of foul play.
Police have sealed off the road leading to her Dartmoor home, near Newton Abbott.
Officers are carrying out an extensive forensic examination of the property and are also searching the surrounding area.
A spokesman for the coronerâs office for the county of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay said: âPreliminary inquiries are ongoing.â
Widdecombeâs management said they are âabsolutely devastatedâ by the news that cops have launched a murder investigation into her death, a statement said.
Cloud9 Management, said the former MP âloved the cut and thrust of political debateâ and was a âconsummate professionalâ.
News of the police probe into politicianâs death has stunned the world of politics and her many supporters and admirers.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the circumstances around Widdecombeâs death are âextremely distressingâ, adding: âMy thoughts are with Annâs family and loved onesâ.
Meanwhile, Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has paid tribute to âformidable politicianâ Ann.
Departing PM Keir Starmer said it was âreally shocking newsâ that police had launched a murder investigation and praised the former MP as a âdistinguished politicianâ.
Sir Keir urged the public to help the police identify the individual suspected, adding: âHeâs clearly dangerous, and I implore everybody whoâs got any information in relation to him to help the police with their inquiries, get him into police custody.â
Strictly Come Dancingâs Anton Du Beke has said he is âdevastatedâ to hear that Ann Widdecombe has died.
Ann also spent time as Education Minister and Prisons Minister in then-Prime Minister John Majorâs cabinet.
Following her retirement from Parliament in 2010, Widdecombe swapped the Commons for the ballroom and starred in BBCâs Strictly Come Dancing.
Ann went on to appear in ITV favourite Celebrity Big Brother, where she finished runner-up to Aussie singer Courtney Act.
Issuing a statement, her management confirmed earlier today: âIt is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG.
âHer life and career were driven by her strong Christian values and commitment to public service.
âShe loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK.
âAnn was a valued patron of many causes, particularly her animal charities.
âAs Ann once said on The Graham Norton Show, âwe get one go this side of eternity, one go. Life is not a dress rehearsal, you take opportunities that you like and you go for it, thatâs my philosophyâ.
âWe send our deepest condolences to Annâs family and friends.
âWe ask that the familyâs wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.â
Ann was born in Bath, Somerset, on October 4, 1947.
Her father, James Murray Widdecombe CB OBE, was Head of Naval Supplies & Transport at the Ministry of Defence.
Before venturing into the world of politics, she started her career in marketing at Unilever in 1973.
Two years later, she became senior administrator at London University, where she stayed until 1987.
Ann served as a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010 and was also a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.
Famed for being a vocal politician, Ann once remarked about her then-boss Michael Howard that âthere is something of the night about himâ.
Her comments led the ex-Tory leader to be forever satirised as a vampire.
In 2019, she sensationally quit the Tories and defected to Nigel Farageâs Brexit Party.
And she caused a stir when she joined her fellow Brexit Party MEPs as they turned their back during the EU anthem.
Police statement in full
In a statement, Devon and Cornwall Police said:
A MURDER investigation has been launched following the suspicious death of former MP Ann Widdecombe at her home on Dartmoor in Devon.
Police officers were called to an address at Haytor 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.
Her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Detectives from the Force Major Crime Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation and are conducting extensive enquiries into the circumstances surrounding Miss Widdecombeâs death.
A cordon remains in place at the property while specialist officers continue forensic examinations. There are road closures in place around the scene.
The public will see a significant police presence in the area today while detectives and officers conduct house-to-house and CCTV enquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said: âThis is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time.
âOur murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened and to locate the person responsible who we believe to be a white male.
âI would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.
âWe are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Haytor Vale, Haytor, or anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage which could assist with our investigation.
âWe have an increased uniformed police presence in the area to both support the investigation and provide reassurance to residents. Anyone with concerns can speak with our officers at the scene.
âWe will release further information when we are able to do so. In the meantime I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media. This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Ann Widdecombe.â
We have set up a Major Incident Public Portal [MIPP] for information, images or footage to be submitted to us. You can also contact us by phone on 101 or through our website, quoting reference 50260179119 and Operation Hunlen.
Please follow the link to the public portal or scan the QR code.â
That same year she branded Theresa May the worst Prime Minister since Anthony Eden.
She most recently supported Reform and served as the partyâs justice and immigration adviser.
Alongside her political career, Ann was an accomplished author, with several novels, autobiographies and works of non-fiction to her name.
Perhaps her most memorable TV appearance was in the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing, when she was partnered with Anton du Beke.
Ann danced her way through to week nine, providing some hilarious performances along the way.
The political heavyweight also appeared on shows such as Celebrity Fit Club, 24 Hours In The Past and ITVâs Sugar Free Farm.
Ann was also known for her documentaries, which included Channel 5âs The Worldâs Most Luxurious Prison.
