Ann Widdecombe, pictured in 2019, was found dead at her home on Thursday morning. Photograph: Steve Taylor/Sopa Images/Shutterstock

Ann Widdecombe death: counter-terrorism police take over investigation

Officers say decision made after ‘new information and evidence has come to light’

Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death of the former MP and Reform spokesperson Ann Widdecombe in light of “new information and evidence”.

Widdecombe’s body was found with serious injuries by the ambulance service at her home in Haytor, Devon, at 11.40am on Thursday, Devon and Cornwall police said.

On Monday, Counter-Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) said it was now leading the investigation. The move marks a swift U-turn after the Devon and Cornwall force initially said counter-terrorism partners had reviewed the case and had ruled out a terrorist motive.

A statement from CTPSE said: “New information and evidence has come to light during what has been a dynamic and complex investigation, and as a result Counter-Terrorism Policing South East is now leading the investigation.”

A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday. He has since been rearrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

The head of national counter-terrorism policing, Laurence Taylor, said: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall police, we now have new information and evidence that means counter-terrorism policing is now leading the investigation.

“We are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to establish the motivation for this attack. Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us. If anyone has any information, please share it with the police.”

The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said she would update MPs in the House of Commons on the case later on Monday. She said she had spoken to the head of counter-terrorism policing about the case.

“Following new information and evidence, they are now leading on the investigation into the horrific murder of Ann Widdecombe,” she said. “The police are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.

“I will be updating the house further this afternoon. My thoughts today remain with Ann’s family and friends, and all those who loved her.”

Devon and Cornwall police arrested a 26-year-old man from Newton Abbott, Devon, on Friday but later released him and said he was no longer connected to the investigation.

Widdecombe, who appeared on TalkTV on Wednesday, lived in Haytor Vale, a village within the Dartmoor national park, in a 1970s bungalow named Widdecombe’s Rest. A plaque with the name of the property was positioned at the end of her drive.

She was a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald. She became a member of the Brexit party in 2019 and served as an MEP, representing South West England, between 2019 and 2020. She was also a member of that party’s successor, Reform UK.

Later in life, she was just as well known for her media work, appearing on shows such as Celebrity Fit Club, Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

Over the weekend, Devon and Cornwall officers went to lengths to reassure the public that the alleged murder did not appear to be politically motivated.

The assistant chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police, Matt Longman, told reporters: “At this point there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident and at this point we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this murder. At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that it was politically motivated.”

An intervention from Nigel Farage prompted politicians from across the spectrum to urge greater restraint. The Reform UK leader visited the area around Widdecombe’s home shortly after her death. On Saturday, he told journalists her death appeared to be “premeditated murder”.

He argued that the case demonstrated that for “people now in public life, especially in politics, the world is very much more dangerous than it’s ever been, whatever the outcome of the motives of the killer”.

One Labour minister said public statements “rarely help the police during an investigation”, while the former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke said people in public life “should know better than to speculate publicly”.

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