Reform UK MPs have been granted round-the-clock security protection following the killing of former government minister and prominent party figure Ann Widdecombe at her home in Devon.
The additional security is being funded by Reform UK amid fears that other members of the party could be targeted. However, police have so far found no evidence that Widdecombe’s death was politically motivated or connected to terrorism.
Widdecombe, 78, was found dead with serious injuries at her isolated home in Haytor, near Dartmoor, on Thursday, July 9. Investigators believe she was attacked at around 12.30pm the previous day. Police had appealed for information about a man reportedly seen behaving suspiciously near Widdecombe’s home shortly before the attack. He was believed to have left the area in a vehicle.
A 28-year-old man was subsequently arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody. A 26-year-old man who had previously been arrested in Newton Abbot was released without charge and is no longer being treated as a suspect.
Widdecombe was a popular, charismatic and often controversial political figure who enjoyed a long career in both politics and television.
She served as a Conservative MP from 1987 until 2010 and held several government positions under former prime minister John Major, including prisons minister. She later represented the Brexit Party in the European Parliament before becoming a prominent member and spokesperson for Reform UK.
Following her departure from the House of Commons, Widdecombe became a familiar television personality. She appeared on programmes including Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother, where her outspoken personality attracted both admiration and criticism.
Widdecombe was known for her strongly held socially conservative views. She opposed abortion, assisted dying and the ordination of women as Anglican priests, and frequently expressed controversial positions on LGBTQ+ rights and criminal justice. Although her opinions divided public opinion, she was widely regarded as someone who remained firmly committed to her principles.
Political leaders from across the ideological spectrum have paid tribute to her public service, conviction and distinctive personality.
Her killing has renewed concerns about the safety of politicians and other public figures in Britain.
Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed by a far-right extremist outside a constituency meeting in West Yorkshire in June 2016. Conservative MP Sir David Amess was fatally stabbed while meeting constituents at a church in Essex in October 2021.
Despite the heightened security concerns, Devon and Cornwall Police have urged the public not to speculate about Widdecombe’s death while the murder investigation remains ongoing.
Screenshot below of Widdecombe’s messages to a Channel 5 producer before her urder.
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