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British police arrested a 28-year-old man in South Yorkshire late on July 11, in connection with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, the 78-year-old former member of parliament and television personality. The arrest was made about 320 kilometers, or 200 miles, from Widdecombe's home in Haytor, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in southwest England, where she was found dead on July 9.
Devon and Cornwall Police believe Widdecombe was attacked at about 12:30 p.m. on July 8. Concerns were raised when she failed to appear for a scheduled television interview that afternoon. Officers were called to her isolated rural home the next day. Police described serious injuries but did not disclose a cause of death.
Counterterrorism officers supported the July 11 arrest, though the force said there was "no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident." Detectives said they were working at pace and did not believe there was a risk to the public. A 26-year-old man arrested on July 10 near the scene was later released and is no longer under investigation.
The killing has renewed focus on the security of current and former public figures in Britain. Protection was tightened for politicians after two serving MPs were murdered in the past decade. Labour's Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021. Widdecombe sat in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010 and served as prisons minister under Prime Minister John Major. She later appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother, became a Brexit Party member of the European Parliament, and most recently represented Reform UK.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage laid flowers outside her home and said a review of party emails had found no pattern of abuse directed at her. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the death as shocking, and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the attack nasty and horrific. Police appealed for information as the investigation continued.
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