UK police have arrested a 26-year-old man over the death of Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former government minister.
Widdecombe was an MP for the Conservative Party from 1987 until 2010. She later served in the European Parliament before joining the right-wing party Reform UK. She served as a minister under Prime Minister John Major. Throughout her political career, she opposed laws that gave equality to LGBTIQA+ people.
Police say they were called to Widdecombe’s property around midday on Thursday and that she had died after sustaining serious injuries. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman of Devon and Cornwall Police said the incident was not being treated as terrorism or as politically motivated.
Officers described the arrested man as a “white British national.” Concern for Widdecombe’s wellbeing arose after she failed to log on for a scheduled television interview.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “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 are with Ann’s family and friends.”
Throughout her political career, Ann Widdecombe was known for her socially conservative views, including her opposition to abortion and her support for conversion therapy for LGBTIQA+ people. In 2019 she told Sky News that science had “yet to produce an answer” on why some people are not heterosexual.
During her time in the UK Parliament, 17 items relating to LGBTIQA+ rights came before the House. Widdecombe opposed 15 of them and was not present for the votes on the other two. She opposed the equalisation of the age of consent and the removal of Section 28 legislation, which banned any mention of homosexuality in government spaces, including education and libraries. Widdecombe also opposed same-sex marriage and gender self-identification for transgender people.
Religion was a significant part of Widdecombe’s life; she converted to Catholicism after the Church of England allowed the ordination of women. She never married or had children.
After leaving politics, she became a fixture on British reality television programs, including Celebrity Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing, and Celebrity Fit Club.
