Ann Widdecombe murder probe: What we know so far

Widdecombe’s political career spanned decades – she served as MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and worked as a Home Office and employment minister in John Major’s government between 1994 to 1997.

Following news of the police investigation, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was “shocking news” and his thoughts were with Widdecombe’s family “at this awful time”.

He said he had spoken to the Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, as well as Andy Burnham, “to urge everybody to come together”.

Badenoch said she was “stunned” and “really struggled to find the words”.

She added: “Ann Widdecombe was a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind.

“She was 78 years old. She was an elderly woman. I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrific to an elderly person.

“It was a nasty, horrific attack. My heart is breaking for her family.”

She continued: “It is one thing when someone dies but to know they have been murdered in this horrible way is just awful.”

Widdecombe was born in Bath, Somerset, in 1947 and went on to study Latin at Birmingham University, then philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University.

After leaving Parliament she embarked on a showbiz career, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

A staunch supporter of the UK’s departure from the EU, she became an MEP for the Brexit Party, representing South West England in the European Parliament between 2019-2020.

In 2023, Widdecombe joined Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, after the party changed its name from the Brexit Party, and made a number of appearances as the party’s immigration and justice spokesperson.