U.K. police make new arrest over killing of former politician Ann Widdecombe

Ann Widdecombe, Brexit Party member, is interviewed after Nigel Farage, Leader of Britain's Brexit Party, spoke on stage at the launch of their policies for the General Election campaign, in London, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

LONDON — British police arrested a 28-year-old man late Saturday on suspicion of murder over the death of former politician and reality TV contestant Ann Widdecombe.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the suspect was arrested in South Yorkshire county in northern England, more than 200 miles (320 kilometres) from the southwest England village where Widdecombe was found dead on Thursday.

Earlier, police released a 26-year-old man arrested Friday a few miles from the scene of the attack, saying he was no longer under investigation. The force said detectives are working “at a significant pace” to find the killer, and they don’t believe there is a risk to the public.

Widdecombe, 78, was found dead in her isolated rural home in the village of Haytor on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. Police did not disclose a cause of death, saying only that she had sustained “serious injuries.”

Police said they believe Widdecombe was attacked at around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Concerns were raised for her after she failed to appear for a scheduled TV interview on Wednesday afternoon.

The force said counterterrorism officers supported local police in carrying out Saturday’s arrest, but there is “no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident.”

Security has been tightened for politicians after the murders of two serving members of Parliament in the past decade. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party to which Widdecombe belonged, said staff had searched party emails to check for patterns of abuse directed at her, but had not found anything.

Speaking after leaving a wreath of flowers outside Widdecombe’s home, Farage said “we can’t identify, from our data, any individual” who appeared to be targeting her.

The death sent shock waves through British politics, where Widdecombe had been a prominent voice for decades, known for her robust personality and socially conservative views opposing abortion and the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights.

She was a lawmaker in the House of Commons as an MP from 1987 to 2010, serving in roles including prisons minister in Prime Minister John Major’s 1990s Conservative government.

Widdecombe found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the reality television shows “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big Brother.”

She later joined the Brexit Party, briefly serving as a member of the European Parliament before Britain left the European Union in 2020. Most recently, she joined the anti-immigration Reform UK party, often appearing in the media as a spokesperson.

Friends and colleagues contrasted her pugnacious political statements with her personal kindness and good humor.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called her death “really shocking news,” and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she “really struggled to find the words to say.”

“It was a nasty, horrific attack and my heart is breaking for her family,” Badenoch said.

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press