'No suggestion' Ann Widdecombe murder was politically motivated, say police
Police have insisted "there is still no information" suggesting Anne Widdecombe's murder was "politically motivated", but detectives "remain open-minded".
Police have said there is no evidence Ann Widdecombe's death was politically motivated.
Authorities are investigating the killing of the former MP and Strictly Come Dancing, who was found dead on Thursday (09.07.26) aged 78, while a 28-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.
In an update, Devon and Cornwall Police assistant chief constable Matt Longman said: "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 at anyone else in connection with this murder.
“Detectives remain open-minded about the potential motive.
"At this stage there is nothing to suggest it was politically motivated.”
Widdecombe was attacked around lunchtime on Wednesday (08.11.26), hours after appearing live on TalkTV at 8am and shortly before she was due to be interviewed again at 2.15pm on Channel 5’s 5 Daytime.
On Sunday (12.07.26), the 28-year-old man was arrested by officers in South Yorkshire on suspicion of the killing.
Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement: “We can confirm that a 28-year-old man was arrested at an address in the South Yorkshire area this evening on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
“The suspect, who is a white British national, is now in police custody.
“Miss Widdecombe’s family have been informed of this development.
“We were supported by Counter Terrorism Policing North East and South Yorkshire Police who carried out the arrest on behalf of Devon and Cornwall Police. At this time, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism related incident and as a force we retain primacy of the investigation.”
There are fears Widdecombe may have lay dead in her Dartmoor home for up to 24 hours before her body was discovered.
She had appeared live on TalkTV at 8am on Wednesday (08.07.26), but missed a planned interview 2.15pm on Channel 5’s 5 Daytime.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman confirmed officers currently believe the attack on Ann took place on Wednesday July 8 at around 12.30pm, narrowing the focus to a relatively short period between Ann leaving TalkTV and the point at which friends and colleagues could no longer reach her.
He said: “We believe the attack took place on Wednesday 8 July at around 12.30pm.”
Police were not called to the house until about 11.40am on Thursday, when ambulance crews raised the alarm and officers found Ann dead inside the property with serious injuries.
Investigators say this apparent 24 hour gap between the suspected time of the attack and the discovery of Ann’s body is now central to the inquiry.
This has raising questions about who may have been in or around her house during that period, and whether the suspect remained in the area or left Dartmoor soon after the assault.
