Counter terrorism police now leading Ann Widdecombe investigation

The former Conservative minister and later Reform UK spokeswoman was found dead at her after sustaining serious injuries

Counter-terrorism police are now investigating the “extremely distressing” death of veteran politician Ann Widdecombe with a review into the safety of MPs now underway.

It comes after new information and evidence emerged during the police investigation launched after Ms Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home on Thursday having suffered serious injuries.

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

He could potentially be held for questioning for up to 14 days before being released or charged by police.

Former Conservative minister and later Reform UK spokeswoman Miss Widdecombe, 78, was found at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor at about 11.40am on Thursday, with it believed she died the day before.

With a counter terrorism investigation now underway, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the House of Commons the man held in custody in connection with Ms Widdecombe’s death “was not known” to the Prevent anti-extremism programme.

She told MPs: “The police now have a suspect in custody, a 28-year-old white British man.

“And I can confirm to the House that this man was not known to Prevent.

“The police have cautioned against speculating about the case – that is the right thing to do for Ann’s family and friends.”

Ms Mahmood described the death of Ms Widdecombe, a former Tory minister, MEP and latterly Reform UK’s spokesperson on Immigration and Justice spokesperson, as “extremely distressing”.

She said “questions about the security of those in public life" had been raised, adding that police will soon issue safety guidance to MPs.

Ms Mahmood said she had recently commissioned a review into the lessons learned from the murder of MP David Amess in 2021 , which will look into required improvements into security arrangements of working MPs.

She will also look into what security guidance can be offered to former MPs and members of parties that do not have MPs, the Home Secretary said.

Ms Mahmood said there was "particular concern" for Reform UK and its leader Nigel Farage, with the Home Secretary offering him a meeting with the body responsible for security for public figures.

Extensive tributes were paid to Ms Widdecombe in the chamber, with Ms Mahmood describing her as “one of those rare politicians who was bigger than politics”, and that the circumstances of the former Maidstone MP’s death were “extremely distressing”.

The Home Secretary told MPs: “Today is a dark day in our political life, but we must also use it as an opportunity to celebrate Ann Widdecombe’s memory.

“She was a unique figure in our politics, a distinctive and devoted public servant, the likes of whom we will rarely, if ever, see again.

“Ann had a profound faith. Her journey in this life has ended too soon. May she now rest in eternal peace.”

Ms Mahmood said counter-terrorism police investigating the death of Miss Widdecombe are “pursuing multiple lines of inquiry in order to establish the motivation of this attack”.

She told MPs: “As soon as more information is available that is capable of being shared without compromising any future trial process, that will be done.”

Ms Widdecombe was a Conservative MP between 1987 and 2010 for Maidstone and later Maidstone and the Weald. She held several ministerial jobs under John Major’s government.

She was a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party in South west England between 2019 and 2020. She joined Reform UK in 2023 and was the party’s immigration and justice spokesperson.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp urged the public not speculate about Miss Widdcombe’s death because it makes the job of police harder and could prejudice a trial.

He said: “I’d like to thank the police for releasing the information they have so far, including about the identity of the suspect. It is always important to release as much information as possible in the interests of transparency and to avoid misinformation filling the void.”

On threats to those in public life, Mr Philp said: “We must redouble our efforts to ensure that public political figures who are MPs, and those like Ann who are not MPs, always receive the proportionate protection they need.”

He added that politicians should “set an example of civility and calm, and not inflame”.

Paying tribute to Ms Widdecombe, the shadow home secretary said: “She always fearlessly spoke her mind. She did not worry about whether her opinion would be popular or would be fashionable. She always said exactly what she believed and exactly what she thought. Her integrity and her fortitude were unmatched.”

Mr Philp concluded: “We need people to step up and become MPs and also speak in the public square. Debate and disagreement are what make our country great. Ann Widdecombe exemplified that every minute of her life.”

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman, on Sunday claimed in a post on X that Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Government and the police did not “care at all about the security of Reform MPs”.

Sir Lindsay said during the debate that MPs’ security concerns are treated equally and are “passed on to the security people to deal with”.

He told MPs: “Every member of Parliament is equal in their security to me – there is no difference between any member, I want to reassure you.

“When things are brought to my attention – because we don’t discuss security, I don’t put out there what is happening, what has been done – but I reassure everybody that when it is mentioned to me, it is passed on to the security people to deal with.

“Unfortunately, I’m sorry that people don’t think I do that.”

Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) told the chamber: “None of us want our homes to be turned into fortresses but maybe more people need to be encouraged to put, for example, security gates on the fronts of their houses and to have security cameras watching and recording what is going on, rather than relying on the Ring doorbell.”

Ms Mahmood said that all MPs were being offered specific risk assessments in conjunction with the Parliamentary Security Department.

SNP Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said she is “very aware” of security and that politicians are often on the frontline.

She added that women in politics can “experience challenges that others might not”.

Ms Gilruth stressed: “I’m not going to comment on the ongoing case in relation to Ann Widdecombe, because of course it is a live investigation at the current time.”

But she said that security guidance for MSPs had been updated in the wake of the killings of MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox.

Speaking to journalists during a visit in Glasgow, Ms Gilruth added: “We all have a level of security provision as MSPs in our own personal addresses and also in our own local offices, but I know across the piece it is something we all take really seriously working in frontline elected politics.

“You’re on the front line, folk know who you are, they might have opinions about you and so your security is naturally part of your job and it is important that you are protected in that regard.”

She added that social media makes politicians “much more accessible” than previously, adding as a result “people are regularly able to comment on things you might have said, things you might have done and they will do that on a regular and routine basis”.

The Deputy First Minister said: “I think security is something I think about, perhaps not on a daily basis, but it is something I am very aware of, particularly as a woman, and I think women in politics in particular experience challenges that others might not.”

Ms Gilruth stressed the the need to be “be mindful” of this, adding: “If we want more women to come into politics, we don’t want them to be put off because of the security challenges around being elected.”