A 26-year-old white male suspect has been arrested after former Tory minister and Reform UK politician Ann Widdecombe was found dead. She was an MP for over two decades and was known for her far-right and homophobic views.
UK PM Keir Starmer skipped over her grotesque views to praise her “dedication” to “public service”:
The whole country will be utterly shocked by the awful news about the circumstances of Ann Widdecombe’s death.
Today we come together across the political divide and I pay tribute to Ann’s dedication during her many years of public service.
My thoughts and deepest condolences… pic.twitter.com/hXps6A9s78
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 10, 2026
Widdecombe reportedly died at her home in Dartmoor, Devon. Few details have been released so far.
The Politics UK X account reported:
Police attended her home yesterday morning and spoke to a carer who worked for the former MP and is believed to have found her body. Officers are also investigating whether she died from an accidental fall.
Devon and Cornwall police said in a statement:
Police officers were called to an address at Haytor by the ambulance service at around 11.40am on Thursday 9 July.
Sadly, 78-year-old Miss Widdecombe was located deceased within the property. She had sustained serious injuries.
Her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Major Crimes Investigation Team deployed
The force added:
Detectives from the Force Major Crime Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation and are conducting extensive enquiries into the circumstances surrounding Miss Widdecombe’s death.
A cordon remains in place at the property while specialist officers continue forensic examinations. There are road closures in place around the scene.
The public will see a significant police presence in the area today while detectives and officers conduct house-to-house and CCTV enquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Ilona Rosson said:
This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe at this difficult time.
Our murder enquiry is in its early stages but moving at a significant pace. 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.
I would appeal to anyone who may have information about this incident, however insignificant it may seem, to come forward and speak with us.
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.
Rosson said the uniformed police presence had been increased in the locality and urged against speculation.
Ann Widdecombe — A career built on bigotry
Widdecombe built a political career on bigotry and a post-parliament brand on clownish reality TV antics. She served as a Tory MP for over two decades, including as a minister under John Major. She later campaigned for Brexit and served as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party (now Reform UK).
Naturally, Britain’s ghouls lined up to paper over Widdecombe’s prejudices. Farage was quick to praise her decisive role in the UK leaving the EU:
When Ann Widdecombe decided to stand for The Brexit Party in the snap 2019 European Elections, it was a big moment and huge boost. The voters loved her.
She played a decisive role in getting Brexit over the line and will be missed by us all. https://t.co/9C0xiqDvqV
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) July 10, 2026
Pink News unpacked her appalling record on LGBTQ+ issues:
Widdecombe has repeatedly used her platform to oppose same-sex marriage equality. During her time as an MP from 1987 until 2010, she took every opportunity to block gay rights, including the repeal of Section 28.
According to vote monitoring website Public Whip, Widdecombe opposed every single equality measure for LGBT people during her 23 years in the corridors of power.
Widdecombe was also a supporter of discredited so-called ‘gay cure’ therapy:
Widdecombe has backed ‘gay cure’ therapists throughout her public career. In 2012, she questioned the lack of available therapy for “gays who do not want to be gay”.
While Tory leader Kemi Badenoch praised Widdecombe’s “values”:
My deepest condolences and those of the Conservative Party to the family and friends of Ann Widdecombe. She was a formidable politician who was never afraid to speak her mind and fought hard for what she believed. Always true to herself, her politics were strongly guided by her… https://t.co/eBdMXRQKGG
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 10, 2026
Piers Morgan said Widdecombe was “feisty”, “fun” and “a gem”:
RIP Ann Widdecombe, 78.
A wonderfully no-nonsense, straight-talking, highly-opinionated British battle-axe. Ann was always a very feisty, combative interviewee, but always great fun too. Amid so many dreary politicians, she was a charismatic, combative gem. pic.twitter.com/QdMIlJu89g— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 10, 2026
Legacy press and mainstream politicians will likely celebrate Ann Widdecombe in the coming days, while obscuring the contempt and bigotry she whipped up under the guise of Christian values. The Canary, as our readers would expect, won’t be running static for a politician who once described trans-inclusive policies as a “prevailing lunacy”.
Featured image via the Canary
By Joe Glenton
