British police launch murder investigation into former MP's death

Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were called by the ambulance service to a property in Haytor at around 11:40 am local time (1040 GMT) on Thursday, where Widdecombe, 78, was found dead.

Detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team said the death was being treated as suspicious and confirmed that a murder investigation had been launched.

"Our murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace," Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said. "We are deploying all the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened and to locate the person responsible, whom we believe to be a white male."

According to a police statement, the property remains cordoned off as forensic examinations continue. Officers are conducting house-to-house inquiries and reviewing CCTV, doorbell camera and dashcam footage. Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to Widdecombe in a post on X, saying, "The whole country will be utterly shocked by the awful news about the circumstances of Ann Widdecombe's death."

Widdecombe served as a Conservative member of parliament (MP) from 1987 to 2010 and later joined the Brexit Party, serving as a member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020. She was also widely known in Britain as a television personality.