Police have released without further action the man arrested on suspicion of murdering former Conservative MP and later Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe, as detectives continue an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the 26-year-old man, who was detained shortly after Widdecombe was found with serious injuries at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, is no longer part of the investigation.
The force said its inquiry remains active and that officers are pursuing multiple lines of investigation to establish who was responsible.
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said detectives were making significant progress but stressed that identifying those responsible remained the force’s overriding priority.
“Our priority remains identifying those responsible and ensuring that all available evidence is thoroughly examined,” he said.
Longman added that specialist officers continued to conduct extensive inquiries across the region and that all necessary investigative resources had been deployed.
“The investigation is moving at a significant pace,” he said. “We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened.”
Police have urged members of the public to come forward with any information, photographs or video footage that could assist the investigation, warning that even seemingly minor details may prove significant.
A Major Incident Public Portal has been established to allow witnesses to submit information digitally, while anonymous reports can also be made through Crimestoppers.
Investigators have previously said the inquiry is not being treated as terrorism-related and that there is currently no evidence to suggest Widdecombe’s death was politically motivated. Forensic examinations continue at the property and surrounding area as detectives seek to reconstruct the events leading up to the attack.
Longman also appealed for restraint on social media, warning that speculation could hinder the investigation and cause additional distress to Widdecombe’s family.
This is not only potentially harmful to our investigation but also deeply distressing for family and friends of Miss Widdecombe,” he said, adding that the family had requested privacy while they come to terms with their loss.
Widdecombe remained one of Britain’s most recognisable political figures. First elected to Parliament in 1987, she served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone and later Maidstone and The Weald before leaving the House of Commons in 2010. She subsequently returned to frontline politics as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party and later became a prominent spokeswoman for Reform UK.
Her death has prompted tributes from across Britain’s political spectrum.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the killing as “a terrible reflection on modern Britain”, expressing concern about the increasingly hostile environment faced by those in public life.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute, calling on politicians across the political divide to unite following the news of her death.
As detectives continue to examine forensic evidence and interview witnesses, investigators have emphasised that the release of one suspect does not diminish the scale of the inquiry. With no arrests currently outstanding, police are continuing to appeal for information that could help establish the circumstances surrounding one of the most high-profile homicide investigations in recent years.
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