Devon and Cornwall Police have launched a major murder investigation following the death of former UK government minister Ann Widdecombe. The 78-year-old was found with “serious injuries” at her home on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
The former Conservative MP and recent Reform UK spokesperson was discovered by the ambulance service at her Haytor residence at 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
On Friday, Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson stated the crime inquiry is progressing at a “significant pace” as authorities initiate a manhunt for a “white male” suspect. This aligns with official police statements and the timeline of the body’s discovery, which also included Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood calling the circumstances “extremely distressing.”
Political figures from across the UK quickly responded to the developing situation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the security of politicians “is of the utmost importance” while explicitly declining to speculate on a motive. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch stated she was “stunned” by the “nasty, horrific attack.”
Widdecombe’s management agency, Cloud9, also confirmed they were “absolutely devastated” by the news, verifying their reaction directly to ITV News.
Widdecombe was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010, holding the position of prisons minister under John Major. She later returned to politics as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party from 2019 to 2020. Most recently, she held the role of Immigration and Justice spokesperson for Reform UK starting in 2023.
Outside of her political career, she was widely recognized by the British public following a prominent appearance on the television program Strictly Come Dancing.