British Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe, the veteran former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman, after she was found with serious injuries at her home in the Devon village of Haytor on Dartmoor, triggering a manhunt for a suspect described by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as “clearly dangerous.”
Devon and Cornwall Police said officers and ambulance crews were called to Widdecombe’s home at around 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, where she was pronounced dead.
Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers, police said. Widdecombe’s death was formally announced Friday morning, and detectives are now treating it as suspicious, with the investigation focused on identifying a white male believed to be responsible.
UK police’s Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said the inquiry, though still in its earliest stages, was progressing rapidly. “The inquiry into Ann Widdecombe’s death is in its early stages but moving at significant pace,” Longman said, appealing to the public for any information, however minor it might seem. Longman added that investigators currently have no evidence to suggest the killing was politically motivated.
Starmer Urges Vigilance, Says Catching Suspect Is ‘Most Important’ Priority
Speaking to reporters, Starmer struck a measured tone, declining to speculate on a motive while stressing the urgency of the manhunt. “It’s really important we remain vigilant,” Starmer said, adding that his focus was on ensuring the suspect was caught as quickly as possible and that Widdecombe’s family and friends remained in the public’s thoughts.
Starmer said he had been briefed directly by the chief constable and had personally spoken with a cross-section of British political leaders about the case, including Labour’s expected next leader, Andy Burnham, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage.
The UK prime minister separately called on the public to set aside political rivalries in responding to the news, emphasizing that unity across party lines was appropriate given the gravity of the crime.
Badenoch, Once a Political Rival, Calls Her ‘Feisty’ and Irreplaceable
Badenoch, whose Conservative Party Widdecombe served for decades before defecting to Reform UK, offered an emotional tribute that reflected the former minister’s long and colourful political career. “I’ve been stunned to hear this awful news,” Badenoch said, adding that she had struggled to find adequate words. She went on to describe Widdecombe as “a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind,” noting her age and calling the Conservative Party “reeling” from the loss of someone who had served as both a party member and government minister before her later move to Farage’s insurgent party.
Badenoch extended condolences to Reform UK on behalf of the Conservatives, describing Widdecombe as a shared friend across the political divide.
A spokesperson for Burnham, who is expected to succeed Starmer as Labour leader, echoed that cross-party sentiment, saying Widdecombe had given “a lifetime of public service” and that it was right for police to dedicate all available resources to the investigation.
A Trailblazing, Combative Political Career
Widdecombe, 78, first entered Parliament in 1987 as the Conservative MP for Maidstone, going on to serve as a government minister, including as prisons minister, during the 1990s. Known for a combative, unapologetically candid style, she remained a fixture of British public life long after leaving frontline politics, later becoming closely associated with Nigel Farage’s Brexit and Reform UK movements, for which she had continued to serve as a spokeswoman.
Widdecombe’s talent management firm, Cloud 9, said it was reeling from the news. “We are absolutely devastated by this news following a very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours,” the firm said in a statement, urging anyone with relevant information to contact police.
Manhunt Continues as Police Cordon Remains in Place
A police cordon remained in place around Widdecombe’s Devon home as the search for the suspect continued into the weekend. Officers have not released further details about the suspect’s identity or a possible motive, and Longman reiterated that the investigation remained fluid as detectives worked through the earliest phase of evidence-gathering.
Devon and Cornwall Police have asked residents in the rural Dartmoor area, as well as members of the public who may have relevant information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, to come forward as the manhunt intensifies. Authorities have not indicated a timeline for when an arrest might be expected, and the investigation remains ongoing.
