Police Find Suspect in Shocking Murder of U.K. Politician

Police in England are urging the public not to jump to conclusions after the shocking suspected murder of former British government minister Ann Widdecombe, saying there is currently no evidence her death was politically motivated.

Widdecombe, 78, was found dead Thursday at her home in rural southwest England with what authorities described as “serious injuries.” The discovery immediately sent shockwaves through British politics, where memories remain raw after the murders of two sitting members of Parliament in the past decade.

But on Sunday, Devon and Cornwall Police said investigators have not found anything so far suggesting Widdecombe was targeted because of her politics.

“At this point, there is still no information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident, and at this point, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this murder,” Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman told reporters.

Longman said detectives are still working to determine a motive, but cautioned against speculation while the investigation is ongoing.

“Detectives remain open-minded about the potential motive,” he said. “At this stage, there is nothing to suggest that it was politically motivated.”

Police arrested a 28-year-old white British man late Saturday in Rotherham, in northern England, on suspicion of murder. Authorities said they are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with the case.

A second suspect, who had been arrested Friday, was released the following day without charge.

Widdecombe was a well-known and often polarizing figure in British public life. A staunch social conservative, she served as a junior minister in former Prime Minister John Major’s Conservative government during the 1990s and remained a prominent voice on the right long after leaving Parliament in 2010.

In later years, she joined Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, where she served as the party’s immigration and justice spokesperson.

Her death comes in a country still scarred by political violence. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a Nazi-obsessed attacker during the bitter Brexit campaign. Conservative MP David Amess was stabbed to death in 2021 by a man inspired by the Islamic State militant group.

That history has fueled intense attention around Widdecombe’s killing, especially given her public profile and controversial political career. But police have been clear that, for now, there is no evidence linking her death to terrorism or political extremism.

Authorities are asking the public to allow detectives to do their work without spreading unverified claims about what may have happened.

The investigation remains ongoing.