HAYTOR, DEVON — Devon and Cornwall police have launched a murder investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe after her body was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Devon. The ambulance service located her body at 11:40 a.m. on Thursday.

Detectives from the Force Major Crime Investigation Team are conducting inquiries into the circumstances of her death. Police stated they are searching for a white male in connection with the incident. Widdecombe's next-of-kin have been notified, and specially trained officers are providing support to her family.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the news as shocking. "This is really shocking news, and my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this awful time for them," Starmer said. He also acknowledged her political career, saying, "Ann was a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements, and it's a huge, huge loss."

DCI Ilona Rosson conveyed the police's dedication to the investigation. "This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time," Rosson said. She added, "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."

Roads around the scene of Widdecombe's home were closed, and a police cordon was established at the property. Specialist officers conducted forensic examinations at the site. Detectives and officers also conducted house-to-house inquiries and CCTV inquiries.

Rosson asked anyone with information to come forward. "We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Haytor Vale, Haytor, or anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage which could assist with our investigation," she said. Rosson also advised against public speculation, stating, "In the meantime I would ask people not to speculate about what might have happened, particularly on social media."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged the public to refrain from speculation. She stated, "I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Ann Widdecombe." Mahmood noted that Widdecombe's dedication to public service spanned decades, stating, "Ann's dedication to public service was decades long, and she was a true servant of her constituents." She confirmed she had spoken to the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall police and affirmed that the Home Office is prepared to provide support to the ongoing investigation.

Widdecombe made an appearance on Talk radio on Wednesday. She resided in Haytor Vale, a village within the Dartmoor National Park, in a 1970s bungalow named Widdcombe's Rest. Widdecombe was a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010, representing the Kent constituency of Maidstone, and later Maidstone and the Weald. She became a member of the Brexit Party in 2019 and served as an MEP for South West England between 2019 and 2020. She was a member of Reform UK.

Cloud9 Management stated they were devastated by the news. They noted her political views stemmed from strong Christian values and a commitment to public service. Cloud9 Management stated she was a cherished patron of various causes, particularly animal charities. They quoted her as saying, "We get one go this side of eternity, one go. Life is not a dress rehearsal, you take opportunities that you like and you go for it, that's my philosophy."