Arrest made in Ann Widdecombe murder case

A 26-year-old white British man has been arrested for the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former government minister whose death was announced earlier on Friday.

British ‌police said they had launched a murder investigation into the death of Widdecombe, who was a Conservative member of parliament between 1987 and 2010, and held several junior ministerial positions in former ​prime minister John Major's government.

"Our murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace," ​Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement.

"We are deploying all of the necessary resources ⁠to find out exactly what has happened and to locate the person responsible who we believe to be ​a white male."

Police said they were called to Widdecombe's address around midday on Thursday where she was found to have ​died and sustained serious injuries. Forensic examinations were continuing at the property, they added.

Interior minister Shabana Mahmood said in a post on X that she was deeply saddened and described the circumstances of the death as "extremely distressing".

Two serving British members of parliament have ​been murdered in the last decade.