UK anti-terror police take over probe into murder of ex-minister Ann Widdecombe

British police are making a U-turn following the murder of politician Ann Widdecombe. The anti-terror police are taking over the investigation.

Published: 14 July 2026, 10:33

Police securing evidence on Saturday near Ann Widdecombe's house on Dartmoor, where she was murdered. Photo: JackTaylor/Reuters

From London Daniel Zylbersztajn-Lewandowski

The British anti-terror police have taken over the investigation into the murder of British politician Ann Widdecombe. This surprising development came after "new information and new evidence came to light in a dynamic and complex investigation," said Labour Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday afternoon in a ministerial statement to the House of Commons.

Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and most recently a senior politician in the right-wing populist party Reform UK, was found murdered in her home in a village in Devon last Thursday. A 28-year-old man suspected of the crime, who was arrested and questioned over the weekend, was arrested a second time on Monday — this time on suspicion of committing, preparing, or inciting a terrorist offense.

A video from a neighbor's surveillance camera in the man's hometown of Rotherham in northern England is circulating on social media and news channels, showing him getting into a red small car wearing shorts and a t-shirt. He is allegedly carrying a type of wooden stick. According to this, he would have driven several hundred kilometers through England with the possible murder weapon to then attack and kill the 78-year-old Widdecombe. Thus, she would in all likelihood be the victim of a targeted attack.

In recent days, British police had repeatedly emphasized that there were no terrorist or political motives for Widdecombe's murder, although it remained unclear on what they based this certainty. Now that has changed. The Home Secretary further explained to the House of Commons that the suspect was not previously known to the British anti-radicalization authority Prevent. She said they would continue working on the case as quickly as possible.

Talks on Politician Safety

Widdecombe was Reform UK's spokesperson for immigration and justice, but her time as an elected Conservative MP and minister is decades in the past. Home Secretary Mahmood stated that the government is reviewing the protection of former politicians. She also wants to hold talks with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on how to better protect politicians from his party.

Farage has often claimed that the state-provided protection for Reform UK politicians like himself is insufficient, which is why he uses a controversial monetary gift of 5 million pounds from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne privately for his security.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Now a Terror Organization

On the same day, there was more on the topic of terrorism. Home Secretary Mahmood stated that over the weekend, twelve people were arrested at various locations in Britain for allegedly planning a far-right terrorist attack at a major Muslim event, the UK Ijtima, in Suffolk. To protect the thousands of attendees, the event had to be cut short on Sunday. This ensured that loss of life was avoided.

Also on Monday, the British Home Office classified Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization — somewhat belatedly compared to the USA, Australia, Canada, and the EU. The IRGC endangered British security, it was stated as justification. Supporting them is now also illegal in the United Kingdom, with a penalty of up to 14 years imprisonment. The classification follows numerous attacks and attempted intimidations.