Ann Widdecombe murder probe: What we know so far

Former MP and MEP Ann Widdecombe was killed in a "targeted attack", counter terrorism police leading the investigation into her alleged murder have said.

The 78-year-old former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday morning with serious injuries.

Police said on Saturday evening that they had arrested a 28-year-old man in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on suspicion of her murder.

It later emerged the suspect had been seen in CCTV footage first obtained by the Sun appearing to get into a car in Yorkshire with what looks like a long object protruding from his pocket, hours before it is believed Widdecombe was attacked.

Devon and Cornwall Police initially said that, while they were keeping an open mind, there was "nothing to suggest" the murder was politically motivated. Counter terrorism police said on Tuesday "based on new information... it was appropriate that we took over the investigation".

Here is everything we know - and do not know - so far:

Information unfolded over Friday and the weekend about what happened earlier in the week, including how and when Widdecombe died. Here is a timeline of events so far.

Wednesday 8 July

• 07:51 BST - CCTV footage appears to show a man dressed in a white shirt and shorts getting into a red vehicle outside a house in Rotherham, with what looks to be a long object protruding from his pocket
• 08:05 - Ann Widdecombe appears on TalkTV from her home in Haytor, a village on Dartmoor, to speak about her party Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage
• 12:19 - A researcher from Channel 5 reportedly speaks to Widdecombe looking to set up a video statement - her last message was received at 12:19
• 12.30 - Police believe this is the time that Widdecombe was attacked
• 12:48 - The Channel 5 researcher messages again, according to ITV reports, asking Widdecombe to join a Zoom link before the interview but she does not reply

Thursday 9 July

• 11:40 - Devon and Cornwall Police officers are called by the ambulance service and find Widdecombe dead in her home, with serious injuries

Friday 10 July

• At around 06:30 - The BBC reports the announcement of Ann Widdecombe's death. A statement from her managing team does not have any information about when, how or where she had died and no detail to suggest her death was suspicious
• At 15:44 - Police issue a statement saying they have launched a murder investigation. The force says there is "no information that this is a politically motivated crime" and also confirms the incident is not being treated as terror-related
• At 16:13 - Widdecombe's management team releases a second statement saying they are "absolutely devastated" by the news of the police investigation following a "very traumatic and upsetting 24 hours"
• At 17:45 - Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman says at a press conference that a 26-year-old white British man has been arrested on suspicion of murder

Saturday 11 July

• Shortly before 07:00 - Police say the suspect has been released from custody and is no longer part of their investigation. Police remain at the scene and a manhunt is under way as the force says the investigation is "moving at a significant pace"
• The force say they are still searching for a suspect who they believe is a white male in connection with her death
• At about 18:15, police say they have decided not to release further information, including descriptions of potential suspects or CCTV footage, for the time being as such information could "compromise ongoing enquiries"
• Shortly before midnight, police said a 28-year-old white British national had been arrested in South Yorkshire by officers from Counter Terrorism Police North East and South Yorkshire Police

Sunday 12 July

• Shortly after 11:30 - Police tell reporters there is nothing to suggest the alleged murder was politically motivated
• They say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and that Widdecombe's family has been informed

Monday 13 July

• Shortly before 13:00, Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) confirms it is now leading the investigation into Widdecombe's death as "new information and evidence has come to light"
• Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she spoke to counter terrorism police and provided an update in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon
• Mahmood told MPs that the suspect was not known to Prevent - the government's anti-extremism scheme

Tuesday 14 July

• Devon and Cornwall's police and crime commissioner acknowledges "commentary" about the way police communicated during the early stages of the case but defends the force, saying its response was "substantial and professional"
• Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor tells reporters Widdecombe had been killed in a "targeted attack" - and says detectives are still working to understand the motive

A 26-year-old white British man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of the murder of Widdecombe. He was arrested in Newton Abbot, a town roughly 10 miles from Haytor.

However, on Saturday morning, Devon and Cornwall Police said the man had been released from custody and was no longer part of the investigation.

Shortly before midnight on Saturday, police said they had arrested a 28-year-old man in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murder.

"The suspect, who is a white British national, is now in police custody," the statement from Devon and Cornwall police said.

On Sunday, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said officers remained "open-minded" about a potential motive and that there was not thought to be any threat to the wider public.

CCTV footage time-stamped 07:51 BST on Wednesday shows the suspect appearing to get into a car in Yorkshire, hours before the former Conservative minister is thought to have been attacked in her home.

The man, wearing a white shirt and shorts, appears to have a long object protruding from his shorts pocket.

On Monday, CTPSE confirmed it had taken the lead on the case after new evidence emerged, and was "pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack".

Widdecombe's political career spanned decades - she served as MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and worked as a Home Office and employment minister in John Major's government between 1994 and 1997.

Widdecombe was born in Bath, Somerset, in 1947 and went on to study Latin at Birmingham University, then philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University.

Three years after becoming an MP, she got a foot on the ministerial ladder as a junior social security minister and was then promoted to the employment brief.

In 1995, she was promoted to prisons minister, where she got into a row after defending a policy of chaining pregnant prisoners to prevent them from escaping.

Following the 1997 Labour landslide, she served under William Hague as shadow health secretary between 1998-1999 and shadow home secretary between 1999 - 2001.

After leaving Parliament she embarked on a showbiz career, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

A staunch supporter of the UK's departure from the EU, Widdecombe became an MEP for the Brexit Party, representing South West England in the European Parliament between 2019 and 2020.

In 2023, Widdecombe joined Reform UK after the party changed its name from the Brexit Party and made a number of appearances as the party's immigration and justice spokesperson.

Following news of the police investigation, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was "shocking news" and that his thoughts were with Widdecombe's family "at this awful time".

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was "stunned" and "really struggled to find the words" in reaction to Widdecombe's death.

Prospective Labour leader Andy Burnham sent his condolences to Widdecombe's family, saying: "Ann gave a lifetime of public service."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged the public "to avoid speculation and allow the police investigation to progress".

She wrote on X that the circumstances of Widdecombe's death were "extremely distressing", adding that her "thoughts are with Ann's family and loved ones".

Laying a wreath near Widdecombe's home on Saturday, Reform UK's Nigel Farage told reporters she was a "remarkable individual" and "the fiercest defender of free speech".

TV presenter Jeremy Vine paid tribute to Widdecombe on his Channel 5 programme - which she was regular guest on - and was moved to tears when speaking about her death during Monday's episode of his show.

Meanwhile Anton Du Beke, Widdecombe's dance partner on Strictly, said her death was the "saddest of news".