What to know about Ann Widdecombe’s private service and public memorial

After the death of former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe on July 9, her family announced a public memorial that will be held later this year, following a private funeral in the coming weeks.

According to sources, the service will be reserved for family and friends now that investigations are underway, crucial details for the public memorial are expected to be released later.

For those unaware, Ann was found dead in her home in Haytor in Dartmoor Devon on July 9 with serious head injuries.

Prosecutors explained that Ms Widdecombe had been eating lunch when Kerry pulled up in a car outside her home and entered through the front door. 

Her interim cause of death has been given as blunt force injury to the head. Detectives are still examining political objectives for the killing but have not yet indicted it as terrorsim.

“We understand that there is significant public interest in the funeral of Ann Widdecombe.”

“A private service for family and close friends will be held in the coming weeks, and invitations for this ceremony have been distributed, Ms Widdecombe's family said.”

Ann Widdecombe was born in Bath, Somerset in 1947, and had a long political career serving as Conservative MP for Maidstone. She achieved prominence outside politics after appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.

Later, she became a supporter of the UK’s departure from the EU, after becoming a Brexit Party MEP. She also represented Southwest England in the European Parliament between 2019 and 2020.