BREAKING NEW : Sky News at a standstill after huge Ann Widdecombe b0mbshell
The Reform UK minister died last week at her home in Devon.
Sky News was interrupted for a major Ann Widdecombe bombshell (Image: Sky News)
Sky News was interrupted for an urgent Ann Widdecombe murder update following the politician’s grisly death last week. Afternoon broadcaster Gareth Barlow returned to the airwaves to announce that counter-terror police are now leading the investigation into the former Reform MP’s death. He explained: “Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe after “new evidence and information has come to light”.
Counter-terrorism South East later confirmed that a 28-year-old man, who was arrested in Rotherham on Saturday (July 11), has since been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. The counter-terror department was working alongside Devon and Cornwall Police after Ms Widdecombe was found dead with “serious injuries” in her Heytor residence at 11.40am on Thursday (July 9).
Head of national counter-terrorism policing, Laurence Taylor, said: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter-terrorism policing is now leading the investigation. We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.
“Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us. If anyone has information, please share it with the police. We would like to thank local communities, the wider public and the media for their ongoing support and patience, and would ask them to continue to support us in the next stage of the investigation.”
It has not yet been revealed what evidence they have uncovered, but following the arrest of their prime suspect, officers now have the powers under the Terrorism Act to detain the suspect without charge for up to 14 days. It comes after No 10 has warned that the “integrity” of the investigation into the politician’s death is to be protected after Nigel Farage claimed her murder was premeditated.
On Monday (July 13), Downing Street said the police “have been very clear” that this is a live murder investigation. They added: “We would just echo that it’s important that the integrity of this investigation is protected and supported as they carry out this work, and of course, we would urge anyone with information to come forward to the police.”
Counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe (Image: Getty)
The announcement comes after the suspect in the investigation was seen in CCTV footage appearing to get into a car in Yorkshire hours before the former Conservative minister is thought to have been attacked in her home in Devon. First reported by The Sun, a man, dressed in a white shirt and shorts, can be seen getting into a red vehicle outside a house in Rotherham with a long object appearing to protrude from his shorts pocket, in footage time-stamped at 07:51 on Wednesday.
At least two police vehicles were seen parked outside a property in Rotherham, believed to be connected to the investigation, on Sunday (July 12). The property was cordoned off while officers and forensic teams worked at the scene. Widdecombe served as the Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years, holding ministerial roles in Sir John Major’s government between 1994 and 1997.
Following her departure from the Commons in 2010, Widdecombe appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing that year, and was a runner-up on Celebrity Big Brother eight years later. She joined the Brexit Party in 2019 and represented South West England as its MEP from 2019 to 2020.
