POLICE investigating the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe have said they are not looking for anyone else after a 28-year-old man was arrested.

Ms Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday, having sustained serious injuries.

Police believe she was attacked on Wednesday at around 12.30pm.

A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in Rotherham on Saturday with support from counterterrorism police.

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said today: “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.

“At this stage there is nothing to suggest that it was politically motivated.”

Ms Widdecombe, 78, was elected as Conservative MP for Maidstone in 1987, later serving as an MEP for the Brexit Party and a spokeswoman for Reform UK.

She also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

Chief Constable James Vaughan said the Devon & Cornwall force had “mounted an extraordinary response to a horrific murder of a very prominent public figure,” adding: “I am really pleased that we have a suspect firmly in custody and that will undergo some further work from us today.”

Ms Widdecombe’s personal driver of 10 years Peter Horrell said the rightwinger “never mentioned any fear” for her safety and loved living in Haytor.

Reform leader Nigel Farage said that the party had been going through its emails to check for patterns of abuse directed at Ms Widdecombe but had not found anything.

Reform MPs are now being given 24-hour security protection following her death, it has been reported.