Man, 26, arrested on suspicion of Ann Widdecombe murder released as police issue new update
Police have confirmed that the 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widecombe has been released from custody and is no longer part of the investigation.
The former MP and MEP was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday (9 July) after sustaining serious injuries. A man was arrested on Friday.
Widdecombe was an ex-Tory prisons minister and later became a Brexit Party MEP, then subsequently a Reform UK spokesperson.
The 78-year-old was also wider known outside of politics after starring in Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
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Devon and Cornwall Police previously said the case of her death is 'not being treated as terrorism' and there is 'no information' at this time to suggest it was a 'politically-motivated crime'.
Confirming the release of the man from custody, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said this morning: “Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined.
“Detectives continue to carry out numerous enquiries as part of the ongoing investigation and we remain committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”
He said the investigation was 'moving at a significant pace', adding: “We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened.
“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 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 Miss Widdecombe. The family have also asked for their privacy to be respected as they come to terms with what has happened.
“We have set up a Major Incident Public Portal for information, images or footage to be submitted to us. This can be found on our website.
“Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers.”
Following Widdecombe's suspected murder, Sir Keir Starmer has urged people to come together across political divides.
He said he had spoken to his likely successor Andy Burnham, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage to 'urge everybody to come together at a moment like this'.
In a social media statement Farage said Widdecombe's death, and subsequent police murder investigation, was a 'terrible reflection on modern Britain'.
The former Tory MP became a member of his Brexit Party in 2019 and served as an MEP representing South west England in Brussels between 2019 and 2020.
She went on to become immigration and justice spokeswoman for Reform UK and appeared on TalkTV on Wednesday, the day before she was found dead.
Widdecombe was due to also be a guest on Channel 5's Matt Allwright show on Wednesday afternoon, but did not appear.
The Reform UK spokesperson had reportedly exchanged messages with a researcher but didn't respond when they tried to contact her to join a Zoom call from home.
Jess Battison