UK Politician Found Dead at Home, Sparking Murder Investigation

England’s Devon and Cornwall police announced a murder investigation on Friday, July 10th, the day after the body of Ann Widdecombe, 78, was found at her home on Dartmoor. A 26-year-old “white man” and British national was in custody, but has since been released.

While the death was initially announced by Widdecombe’s management company, it became clear later in the day that police were treating it as suspicious. For now, terrorism, has been ruled out as a motive.

Widdecombe was a ‘Church and fete’ Tory MP who served the party in Parliament for more than two decades, including in cabinet. She then represented the now-defunct Brexit Party as a member of the European Parliament. Ultimately, she joined what Nigel Farage has described as that party’s “direct descendant,” Reform UK.