Hours after it was confirmed that former Conservative MP and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe had died at the age of 78, the police announced they were launching a murder investigation into her death.
Speaking to the press, DCI Ilona Rosson said: "This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time.
"Our murder inquiry 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.
"I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us. We 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."
She concluded by saying: "We 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.
"We 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."
© WireImageThe police also confirmed that they were called to an adress at 11:40 BST on 9 July after they were called by ambulance services. The 78-year-old was "located deceased" in her home and had "sustained serious injuries".
The spokesperson for the coroner's office of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay confirmed that "preliminary inquiries are ongoing".
© Getty ImagesOn X, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "I have spoken to the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall police today. The Home Office stands ready to provide whatever support they need with their ongoing investigation. I urge everyone to avoid speculation and allow the police investigation to progress."
She had remained active until her death, and on 8 July, Ann made an appearance on TalkTV to speak about Reform UK and Nigel Farage following Nigel's resignation as MP for Clacton to fight the seat again in a by-election.
Ann Widdecombe's death and career
Ann's death was announced by her management, Cloud9, who said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG. We send our deepest condolences to Ann's family and friends. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected."
Following the news that a murder investigation had been launched, Cloud9 said they were "absolutely devastated". They added: "We fully support the police in their investigations and we reiterate the family’s desire not to be contacted at this difficult time. We implore anyone who may have relevant information to contact Devon and Cornwall Police."
© Alamy Stock PhotoShe was first elected for the Conservative Party in 1987, representing Maidstone in Kent. She served until she stood down at the 2010 Generel Election, and she held positions including Minister of State for Prisons and Shadow Home Secretary.
In 2019, she defected to the Brexit Party in protest against Britain's failure to leave the European Union, and served as an MEP representing South West England in Brussels between 2019 and 2020. When the Brexit Party rebranded to Reform UK, she remained with the party, becoming their spokesperson for Immigration and Justice.
© WireImageAnn also had a memorable stint on Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Anton Du Beke. Despite the pair regularly finishing at the bottom of the leaderboard, they recieved plenty of support from the public, making it all the way to the quarter-finals.
