Murder probe launched into suspicious death of former British minister Ann Widdecombe

LONDON (AP) — A murder investigation was launched Friday into the death of Ann Widdecombe, a former member of Parliament and reality TV contestant, who was found dead in her home in southwest England, police said.

The 78-year-old former Conservative lawmaker and prisons minister had “sustained serious injuries” when she was found on Thursday at the property in Haytor, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, according to a statement from Devon and Cornwall Police.

Police said they were seeking a male suspect.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged people to rise above political differences and focus on catching the killer.

“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,” Starmer said. “Ann was a distinguished politician over many, many years with many achievements, and it’s a huge, huge loss.”

Widdecombe found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother reality television shows. She later joined the Brexit Party and became a spokeswoman for the anti-immigration Reform UK party.

She served in the House of Commons as an MP from 1987 to 2010 and was known for socially conservative views opposing abortion rights and expansion of LGBTQ rights.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called her a “heroic Brexiteer and a great speaker who could move Tory audiences to such ecstasy that she was a very hard act to follow.”

The management company that represented her after she left politics said her life and career were driven by strong Christian values and a commitment to public service.

“She loved the cut and thrust of political debate and, 16 years after leaving Parliament, was still actively campaigning for Reform UK and offering forthright views on the hot topics of the day,” Cloud9 Management said.

“As Ann once said…‘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’.”