Ann Widdecombe's death being investigated by UK Police as a murder

Police have opened a murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe after the former Conservative prisons minister was found with serious head injuries at her home in Haytor, Dartmoor.

Officers were called by an ambulance crew to the 78-year-old's Devon property at 11.40am yesterday, where she was discovered covered in blood from a head wound. Her carer is understood to have found her body. Devon and Cornwall Police say they are searching for a white male suspect they believe is responsible.

Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said the inquiry is in its early stages but moving quickly, and appealed for witnesses, CCTV, doorbell and dashcam footage from the Haytor Vale area. Forensic teams are examining the cordoned-off property.

Her death, first announced by her management team with no initial suggestion of foul play, has stunned British politics. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it really shocking news and urged the public to help police apprehend a clearly dangerous suspect, while declining to speculate on motive. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also warned against speculation.

Widdecombe served over two decades as a Tory MP before joining Reform UK in 2023, and was last seen publicly on Wednesday backing Nigel Farage on Talk TV.